Vikki Carr Goes the Extra Mile for Symphony

Word was out that singer Vikki Carr wasn’t thrilled about her scheduled appearance at a party for the Pacific Symphony’s Hispanic Program Advisory Committee after her concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on Saturday night.

(After all, socializing into the wee hours can be exhausting after you’ve sung your heart out.)

“But she was in her glory” at the $55-per-person bash for about 200 party-goers, observed the symphony executive director, Louis Spisto. “Once she got there, she was a doll.”

She chatted, rubbed elbows and posed for pictures until midnight.

Two of the party-goers--Deeann and Al Baldwin--have known Carr for more than 25 years. In fact, Carr and her husband, Michael Nielson, attended the Baldwins’ 25th-anniversary party in their Emerald Bay home three years ago.

“It was wonderful to hear her sing at the Center,” Deeann said. “Especially that number ‘How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?’ She almost made me cry.”

The Pacific Symphony is hoping songbird Bernadette Peters will be equally charming at a party scheduled after her appearance at the Center later this month. “She wants to just do a walk-through,” Spisto said. “But I’ll bet she’ll be terrific when she gets there.”

Tidbits: A prominent Santa Ana antiques dealer has donated a super-hot auction item to Saturday night’s Pacific Symphony gala at the Westin South Coast Plaza: a one-week stay in his antique-crammed Paris apartment. He wants to remain anonymous, say insiders, so he won’t be chased by charities. . . . We hear high-society bandleader Peter Duchin--who will play for the symphony splash--can be pretty picky when it comes to stage settings. With that in mind, the Pacific Symphony pulled out the stops to please the maestro. A gold-and-silver stage-cum-backdrop worth thousands was erected. A sketch of the Art Deco-themed structure was recently faxed to Duchin in New York for his approval. Fortunately, he OKd it. If he hadn’t, “it would have come down,” said someone who knows. Ball chairwoman Linda Gome plans to wear a $2,000 Bob Mackie frock to the 12th annual gala. . . . Watch for Willa Dean and William Lyon to open the doors of their Tara-esque Coto de Caza mansion on April 20 for a “Gatsby Garden Luncheon” on behalf of Opera Pacific. It’s been awhile since Orange County’s society set has partied at the home of America’s largest home builder. . . . Orange County is going all out for Saturday night’s Marine Corps Scholarship Ball at the Century Plaza hotel. Locals who plan to attend include Arnold Beckman; Irvine Co. bigwig Gary Hunt and his wife, Joanne; builder Bill Lusk and his wife, Ann; Tom and Nadine Wilck, and Orange County Supervisor Tom Riley and his wife, Emma Jane. Gov. Pete Wilson will receive the coveted Semper Fidelis award at the affair (Riley won it last year). . . . It’s going to look like Goldfinger touched every item in the ballroom when Placido Domingo parties with local arts supporters at “The Gold Rush Gala” following his performance at the Center on June 5. Gold will be everywhere , promise co-chairwomen Sue Perewozki and Martha Green--on flowers, on tablecloths, even on the chairs. And on the ears and necks of socialites, but of course.