Cunard Line Hosting Gala Fundraiser Aboard Queen Mary 2 to Benefit New York City Opera & Brooklyn Academy of Music

NEW YORK, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, May 24, 2007, Cunard Line will welcome guests from the New York City Opera (City Opera) and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) aboard the company's flagship Queen Mary 2 for The Britannia Ball, a gala evening benefiting both cultural institutions. The ball will include: cocktails, dinner, dancing to Peter Duchin and his orchestra and a special performance by Tony Award(TM) winner Patti LuPone who will perform a special rendition of "The Lady with The Torch" in the ship's Royal Court Theater.

(Photos: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070220/NYTU111-a http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070220/NYTU111-b )

The Britannia Ball will be sponsored by CIT Group Inc. , a leading global provider of commercial and consumer finance solutions. CIT Chairman and CEO Jeffrey M. Peek and his wife Elizabeth will serve as co- Chairs of the event. Brian T. Leary of Massey Knakal will serve as Vice Chair.

Docked for this special night at its New York home, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, Queen Mary 2 -- the world's most luxurious ocean liner -- will serve as the elegant setting for the evening's festivities, and The Britannia Ball guests will have full access to all the public areas of the ocean liner including: the Queens Room, the largest ballroom at sea, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, the Royal Court Theater and Illuminations, the only planetarium at sea. Queen Mary 2 will set sail the next day for her Memorial Day cruise to the Bahamas.

City Opera and BAM are institutions that share similar missions which reflect a commitment to artistic excellence, innovation and accessibility. Their audiences are sophisticated and adventurous and include many social and corporate leaders of New York. Together the companies reach more than 650,000 individuals annually and have helped to transform the cultural landscape of New York City. All proceeds from The Britannia Ball will be divided equally to support programs at City Opera and BAM.

Cunard Line's President Carol Marlow commented, "As the most iconic British ocean liner company, Cunard Line has long been the travel choice for artists, politicians and celebrities. Since Queen Mary 2's launch, she has hosted such notables as Her Majesty The Queen, Senator Hillary Clinton, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Lenny Kravitz, Uma Thurman, Angela Bassett, Rod Stewart and Carly Simon. The Britannia Ball reflects our company's enormous regard for artists and the performing arts institutions that create vibrant destinations throughout the world. We are honored to partner with City Opera and BAM, two organizations that embody the excitement and innovation of the arts in New York."

Tickets for The Britannia Ball are $1,000; and $2,500 for a VIP ticket that includes access to an exclusive cocktail reception, as well as preferred seating for the performance and dinner. Approximately 1,000 guests are expected to attend. Those interested may call BAM Patron Services at 718-636-4182 for tickets to The Britannia Ball and information about booking a premiere Suite on Queen Mary 2's Memorial Day Weekend cruise to the Bahamas.

"The spectacular ship, legendary hospitality, the incomparable views of the New York harbor, and entertainment of the highest caliber are just some of the elements that will ensure that The Britannia Ball will be a one-of-a-kind, memorable event for all our guests," says Jane M. Gullong, Executive Director of New York City Opera. "City Opera and our colleagues at BAM are profoundly grateful to Cunard and CIT for creating this unique opportunity."

"We are delighted to participate in this magical evening. BAM is proud to join forces with such a creative team of organizations," says Karen Brooks Hopkins, President of BAM. "We anticipate a star-filled evening celebrating two great cultural centers aboard a majestic icon."

Hosts for The Britannia Ball include Chairs Elizabeth and Jeffrey M. Peek; Brian T. Leary; Carol Marlow, President of Cunard Line; Paul Kellogg, General & Artistic Director, Jane M. Gullong, Executive Director and Susan L. Baker, Chairman of New York City Opera; and Karen Brooks Hopkins, President, Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer and Alan H. Fishman, Chairman of Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Jeffrey M. Peek, Chairman and CEO of CIT, said, "We are very excited to sponsor this historic event. CIT has a long history of supporting the arts and this gala offers us an excellent opportunity to showcase our commitment. This celebration will not only raise funds for these two great institutions, but will also highlight the tremendous work they do and the wonderful programs they offer to millions of New Yorkers and visitors alike."

ABOUT CUNARD/QUEEN MARY 2

Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and QE2, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British finesse since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service(SM), fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in December 2007.

ABOUT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is recognized internationally for its innovative programming of dance, music, theater, music-theater, opera, and film. BAM presents leading national and international artists and companies in its annual Spring Season and highlights groundbreaking, contemporary work in the performing arts with its Next Wave Festival each fall. Founded in 1983, the Next Wave is one of the world's most important festivals of contemporary performing arts. BAM Rose Cinemas features new, independent film releases and BAMcinematek -- a curated, daily repertory film program -- features classics, retrospectives, and contemporary international films often accompanied by guest speakers.

ABOUT NEW YORK CITY OPERA

City Opera was founded in 1943 with the goal of presenting the best opera to the widest possible audience. Today, under the visionary leadership of General and Artistic Director Paul Kellogg, City Opera is renowned for its artistic innovation and excellence, cultivation of new talent and a wide- ranging repertory that includes classic works, contemporary opera and many rarely performed works. City Opera pioneered the use of "supertitles" in this country, and its comprehensive student outreach programs and special initiatives such as Opera-For-All continue to share the excitement and inspirational power of opera with young people and those new to the artform.

ABOUT CIT

CIT Group Inc. , a leading commercial and consumer finance company, provides clients with financing and leasing products and advisory services. Founded in 1908, CIT has more than $74 billion in managed assets and possesses the financial resources, industry expertise and product knowledge to serve the needs of clients across approximately 30 industries worldwide. CIT, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 Index, holds leading positions in vendor financing, factoring, equipment and transportation financing, Small Business Administration loans, and asset-based lending. With its global headquarters in New York City, CIT has more than 7,300 employees in locations throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. http://www.cit.com/.

TICKET INFORMATION

For Britannia Ball tickets and information about the Queen Mary 2's Memorial Day Weekend cruise to the Bahamas, please contact BAM Patron Services at 718.636.4182.