THE CROWD

B.W. Cook

It was an evening fit for the Romanov family. Opera Pacific held its

annual holiday ball themed around a “royal Russian” experience -- in part

to honor the upcoming production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.” Under

the patronage of the Honorable Yury V. Popov, consul general of the

Russian Federation, more than 400 guests paid $300 and more to spend the

holidays in a re-creation of the Palace at St. Petersburg.

Actually, the Orange County extravaganza unfolded in the Sequoia

Ballroom of Disney’s new Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim. The event

was underwritten by Cartier of Costa Mesa, represented by the

civic-minded Caroline Jones. The ball attracted a contingent of

Newport-Mesa women donning period costume.

“We are very proud to once again support Opera Pacific and the Opera

Ball,” commented Jones, who manages Cartier’s South Coast Plaza boutique.

“Cartier has a long-standing reputation for recognizing the connection

between community, commerce and charity. And, we participate on a

worldwide basis.”

The Opera Ball was co-chaired by Janice Johnson, Margie Hubbard and

Barbara DeMain. The triad of involved women all share years of community

service and a special affection for Opera Pacific. DeMain is the wife of

John DeMain, artistic director of Opera Pacific. Hubbard is the wife of

Martin Hubbard, the opera company’s executive director.

It is an unusual circumstance to have the spouses of significant

participants in a given organization so involved in fund-raising. These

women, along with Janice Johnson, wife of former Clinton cabinet member

Roger Johnson, have helped to raise the standard and the amount

contributed to opera in recent years. Their work has paid off.

New donors to Opera Pacific include the generous Henry and Susan

Samueli of Corona del Mar. The Samueli touch has enabled the opera

company to greatly expand in both creative and administrative avenues

with a new building also in the forecast. Additionally, the Opera Ball

fall luncheon and fashion show held at the Samueli estate on the

oceanfront has become one of the A-list events of the season.

The 19th annual Opera Ball was a success in no small part due to the

largess of donors such as the Samuelis. However, it is important to note

that this opera company has survived, prospered and grown over two

decades because of the dedicated support in good times, and in not so

good times, from loyal Newport-Mesa citizens, including Richard and Pat

Allen, Stan and Ferie Bailey, Joann Bechtold, Karl and Conny Bergstrom,

Nancy Burnett, Laila and Bill Conlin, Arlene and George Cheng, Patricia

and Ben Dolson, and Robert and Carole Follman.

The party came to life under the talented hand of set designer Kenneth

Verdugo, who has also designed sets for Opera Pacific. Creating the

grand ballroom of the Palace at St. Petersburg, Verdugo commissioned

Balaliaka musicians to greet the guest as they arrived for sunset

cocktails. Dinner was served at 7:30 p.m. as Opera Pacific chorus master

Henri Venanzi led the orchestra in musical selections from the great

Russian composers.

Also in the crowd were Barry and Ellie Faber, Gene and Pat Hancock,

Bruce and Christine Jordan, Elaine and Hunter Keck, Marc and Sherri

Nussbaum, Pamela and Malcolm Paul, Valoree and Bob Wahler, Pat and

Charlie Poss, Carl and Susan St. Clair, Bill and Cindy Taormina, and

Gayle Widyolar.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.