The Crowd: A concert by Krall and $2.1 million for the arts

Christmas was celebrated with grand passion earlier this month as patrons of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts came together Dec. 4 for the 42nd annual Candlelight Concert and gifted the center more than $2.1 million in support of arts and education programs.

It was surely a Christmas present worthy of celebration. Co-chaired with taste and style by leading Orange County philanthropists Marta and Raj Bhathal and Kelly and Jim Mazzo, the understated elegance of the evening featured the world-class entertainment by Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and songstress Diana Krall.

The black-tie crowd of some 400 patrons arrived at the Segerstrom Center to find the exterior of the massive building bathed in violet light, which was a precursor to the decorative color scheme created by the chairs and their committee for the evening celebration.

The crowd entered through the main doors and proceeded up the curving grand staircase to the second-level lobby for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. For the past four decades, Candlelight Concert has been a very special annual chance for old friends and new to join forces in recognizing the value of the performing arts in the Orange County community.

They do this with their presence, standing front and center, and they do this with their generous contributions. The late founding chairman of the center, Henry T. Segerstrom, had a vision — which he fulfilled with the help of many — of creating an arts center that rivals the best in the nation.

He did this because he knew in his heart of hearts that culture elevated the human condition in a way unmatched by just about any other phenomenon. The elevated aspect of this culture then translated into expanded business success along with real estate growth and the attraction of new and diverse populations — all contributing to the vibrancy of what has become one of America’s most envied communities.

The cocktail celebration led to the opening of the concert hall doorways, and the crowd entered to find Segerstrom Hall transformed into a performance venue for Krall. Designers expanded the main stage out over the front section of the orchestra to create a setting for Krall and her five-piece jazz band.

Patrons were seated in the rear tier of the orchestra for a very special private performance that also featured an emotional connection. Krall, who began her career singing in the bar of the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel always had a special connection to Henry Segerstrom. The jazz singer made a tribute to him, singing the Beatles’ song “In My Life.”

In the audience for the sentimental musical tribute were Henry’s widow, Elizabeth Segerstrom, his son and daughter-in-law, Anton and Jennifer Segerstrom, and other family members.

As guests rose in a standing ovation for Krall at the conclusion of her performance, the curtain was raised on the main stage, revealing the gala dinner celebration. It was a return to earlier years when Candlelight was always created on the Segerstrom stage. Designers chose an around-the-world travel theme to correspond with the dinner presentation. Center donors were seated at tables of different sizes and shapes draped in violet cloths, and tall, silver vases overflowing with purple tulips and calla lilies sat at the center of each.

The creative menu prepared and served by the Patina Group began by taking guests to St. Petersburg, Russia, with white-glove service of deconstructed caviar accompanied by Persian cucumber with dill, salmon, chopped egg, chives and blinis topped with vodka crème fresh. The jewel of Russian vodka, Nazdorovie, was poured generously as the crowd toasted one another in shot glasses actually made of ice, while video scenes of St. Petersburg were projected on the walls.

A main course of natural beef tenderloin and Atlantic lobster transported the crowd to the all-American New York, N.Y. And for dessert it was off to Paris for a sampling of Parisian sweets including eclairs, tarts and decadent artesian chocolates.

Organizers called the evening a passport to what William Shakespeare labeled “All the world’s a stage.” As the crowd dined, they looked out over the massive Segerstrom Hall at a sea of seats that had been festooned with some 2,000 tea lights in the orchestra terrace, lodge and balcony levels.

As dinner concluded, the second act of impressive entertainment took to the stage in front of the dinner celebration, raising the energy level. Legendary dance band KC and The Sunshine Band brought donors to their feet on a dance floor in front of the dining tables on the elevated expansion of the main stage.

VIP guests included the center’s board chairman, John Ginger, and his wife, Toni, center President Terrence Dwyer and his wife, Amy, and patrons Shanaz and Jack Langson, Jane Buchan and Jim Driscoll, Roberta and Howard Ahmanson, Nancy and Rick Muth, Randy and Sally Crockett, Lawrence and Dee Higby, Byron and Ronnie Allumbaugh, Roger and Tracy Kirwan, Moti and Idit Ferder, and Allan and Twyla True.

Also front and center for arts in Orange County were Mike and Eve Ruffatto, Jackie Glass, Alex and Barbara Bowie, Don and Soogie Kang, Ralph and Sue Stern, Jerry and Maralou Harrington, SL and Betty Huang and Mike and Ellie Gordon.

Wishing all readers a joyous Christmas. May you all be surrounded by loved ones and share in a day of love, peace and goodwill.

B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.