B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

The hills were very much alive with the sound of music recently as

Opera Pacific took summer guests on an Aegean Odyssey. It was all part of

the Opera Founder’s seasonal gala honoring local music patron Jeanette

Segerstrom. This 16th annual event, attracting a crowd of more than 250

guests, was chaired by Renee and Dr. William Adler, and Della and John

Keipp.

The theme of the party thrown at the spectacular Pelican Hill estate

of Cindy and Bill Taormina was Greek, so what better way to begin the

evening than with strolling Greek musicians and appetizers including

spanakopita, Aegean shrimp canapes and Mediterranean beef skewers.

Enormous support for the evening came from a committee of volunteers

including Laila Conlin, Ellie Faber, Jean Fox, Ann Howard, Elaine Keck,

Donna Phelps, Margaret Price, Mary Raymond, Nancy Sorosky, Babs Soros,

Barbara Venezia, Elizabeth Vincent and Gayle Widyolar.

The volunteers, with their husbands and escorts, joined in the

festivities, furthering the tradition of the Opera Pacific Gold Ring

Society of Founders, established by founding chairs Maxine and Robert

Gibson in 1986.

Also on hand for the affair was Opera Pacific’s executive director

Martin G. Hubbard. Hubbard is credited with advancing the goals of Orange

County opera to a significantly elevated level on both artistic and

financial fronts.

Following a delightful cocktail hour putting all the guests in the

proper Greek frame of mind, dinner was served on the Taormina tennis

court as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. French-cut lamb chops

seasoned in fresh Greek herbs and spices were served with Florentine

stuffed chicken, moussaka (eggplant made with seasoned beef layered with

Bechamel sauce), farfalle pasta Marsala (four varieties of mushrooms in

Marsala wine) and an assortment of additional Greek delicacies catered by

TGIS (Thank God It’s Sofia) of Long Beach.

Dining on the court were Connie and Karl Bergstrom, Vesta Curry, Sandy

and John Daniels, Mindy and Cort Ensign, Eve Foussard and Art James, Nora

and Jim Johnson, Barbara and Paul Penrose, Pat and Charlie Poss, Elaine

Redfield, Marilyn Gianulias and Bill Robbins, Barbara and Bill Roberts,

Sally Segerstrom, and Joan and Bill Simonoff.

Les Brown and the Band of Renown created musical magic prior to an

emotional tribute to benefactor Jeanette Segerstrom, who was unable to

attend the event. She was proudly represented by her daughters Sally

Segerstrom and Sandy Daniels.

Auction activity helped to raise the net proceeds of the evening.

Organizers collected a plethora of merchandise from generous local

vendors. Some of the very generous donors included Austrian Airlines;

Hotel Imperial, Vienna; and the owners of Casa de Suenos in Manzanillo,

Mexico -- an oceanfront villa offered for a week stay on the Mexican

Riviera valued at $10,000. Following the auction, the Golden Greeks

entertained the crowd as a dessert buffet was served.

The 2001-2002 season of Opera Pacific begins Sept. 16 with the

production of Festa Italiana, followed by “Rigoletto” in November, “Don

Giovanni” in January, “Eugene Onegin” in February and March, “Dead Man

Walking” in April, “The Barber of Seville” in May, and special

performances planned throughout the season.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.