STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The snow falling on the streets of Ketchum hardly evoked thoughts of Mardi Gras, the day of indulgence before the season of Lent.

But the Argyros was bathed in the warm Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold and the seasoning for the jambalaya was hot as Sun Valley Opera and Broadway celebrated its silver anniversary with a Mardi Gras party that featured a boisterous evening of food and music.

Robyn Watson, who organized the celebration as the executive director of Sun Valley Opera and Broadway, is no stranger to  New Orleans. In fact, she made pralines for the party and provided her cousin’s Coosh’s Cajun spice blend for partygoers to sprinkle on the jambalaya served up by David Fox of Silver Fox Catering.

Art and Manijeh Brueggeman were joined by daughter Shireen Brueggeman and others at the Mardi Gras party.

“I’ve never been there for Mardi Gras, but I was there the week before Mardi Gras and even then it was so festive—a celebration of lust and greed before Ash Wednesday,” she said. “I just love the music and the food.”

Both Watson and Rae Kozlowski, who was among the attendees on Tuesday night, have toured the giant Mardi Gras World warehouse where the workers work on floats for the Mardi Gras parades.

“They have a corner for broken parts that they put back together so they can reuse them. And I also stopped at author Anne Rice’s house-–she even has a baby coffin with a doll in it,” Watson said.

Kozlowski talked about visiting New Orleans’ unique above-ground, maze-like cemeteries and taking a swamp tour.

Members of Wood River High School’s jazz band joined Cait Martin and her backup band on “When the Saints Come Marching In.”

“It’s a very unique city—always something going on 24-7. And I love NCIS and they have a New Orleans one so it’s fun to see the locals.”

Rebecca Cox poured signature New Orleans rum-based cocktails known as Hurricanes served up in tall, curvy hurricane glasses topped with an orange slice and cherry.

And David Fox paraded out New Orleans-inspired Pimento Toast, Po Boys and a Corn and Ham Maque Choux (pronounced mock-shoe) stuffed in a crunchy shell.

His piece de resistance: Mardi Gras King Cake. Originating as a way to commemorate the day the Three Wise Men visited Baby Jesus, Fox’s cake with its plastic babies resembled a moist cinnamon roll done up cake style.

Linda Nicholson got a kick out of The Argyros mascot decked out for Mardi Gras.

Sun Valley Opera Co-Founder Frank Meyer noted that when he and two others started Sun Valley Opera they had a conversation with members of Portland Opera who told them the best way to get on the radar of up-and-coming opera singers was to have a competition.

“You’ll be on the map as the world of opera is small and they appreciate that you give them money,” he recounted. “American Idol started a year later so we started a competition and had winning artists come for five years. Now some are performing at The Met.”

Of course, the main attraction of this particular evening was Cait Martin, who showed how she had made it to the finals of “The Voice” by belting out such songs as Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools,” “Janis Joplin’s “Take a Little Piece of My Heart,” Ike and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and George Gershwin’s “Summertime.”

This was Martin’s second appearance for Sun Valley Opera and Broadway, and it was clear to see that she was a crowd favorite as attendees clapped vigorously and a few even jumped from their seats at the conclusion of several songs.

Geri Pesch serves Steve Bryan.

“It’s a little cold outside—we’ll try to heat it up in here,” said Martin, who wore a green feathered headdress and mask over her flowing red curls and glittering gold dress.

“Ummm! The hurricanes must be starting to kick in!” she said as the audience yelled its approval.

Martin described New Orleans’ famed Second Line parades, as she sang “When The Saints Come Marching In” and pumped a feathered parasol in the air.

And she sang a handful of New Orleans-related songs she had curated for the evening, including “Mardi Gras Mambo” and “Linda Ronstadt’s “Blue Bayou.”

“The music comes from the soul. It comes from the rhythm. Feel the rhythm,” said Martin, who has sung in a variety of venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to cruise ships.

Martin told the audience that she’d been born in New Orleans and that her family was from New Orleans.

“So, when I was asked to do this, I said, ‘Absolutely!’

The audience wouldn’t let her go without an encore, and Martin obliged, grabbing the guitarist of the four-piece Nampa band to accompany her.

“And I will always love you…..” she wailed as the audience left Mardi Gras behind to go back onto the snowy streets of Ketchum.

COMING UP:

Sun Valley Opera and Broadway’s next concert will be a Phantom of the Opera Gala on July 14 at The Argyros. That will feature three singers performing songs from “Phantom of the Opera,” as well as a Champagne Cocktail Hour, Seated dinner and Concert.