The Crowd

B.W. Cook

They gathered at dusk Saturday, sipping cocktails and sampling hors

d’oeuvres in the lower courtyard of the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel &

Tennis Club, Fashion Island.

From the lobby level of the hotel, regular folks in regular clothing

peered down upon the glamorous crowd who had dressed to impress for the

1999 Opera Ball.

The lower courtyard was packed. Elbow to elbow the crowd jockeyed for

position, bussing friend after friend in an ever-whirling motion of women

in taffeta and silk, men in black tie turning to meet and greet one

another, looking over their respective attire, jewelry, hairstyle and

general attitude.

Society is after all nothing without attitude. And opera, more than any

other performing art form, is immersed in attitude, on and off stage. A

perfect evening was certainly in the making.

Chaired by Patricia Ann Marshall, the Opera Ball began with panache in

the courtyard. Marshall billed the reception as “Le Jazz Hot” in the

milieu of the Parisian bistro.

And while the Marriott is no Parisian bistro, the energy generated at the

reception set the tone for a very lively evening on the Orange Coast for

the opera sponsored and underwritten by the generous jeweler Cartier.

“Their supreme graciousness will contribute to making this evening the

most spectacular and successful event of the Orange County social

season,” added Marshall, doing her own share of bussing as guest after

guest bestowed their thanks upon the chair for her efforts.

Opera Ball 1999, “Fin de Siecle,” celebrating the end of the century,

marked the 17th year Opera Pacific and the Opera Pacific Guild Alliance

has entertained the crowd in style, raising needed funds to keep the

company headed in a positive direction.

“This is a very special year for this event because Opera Pacific is in

the hands of a very special man, John De Main,” said patron and guest

Nancy Sorosky of Big Canyon. “He is simply fabulous and it shows in every

production,” added Sorosky, who has supported Opera Pacific though good

times and tough times.

As the crowd made their way from the lower-level reception into the main

ballroom for dinner, the Opera Pacific Orchestra played, conducted by

Henri Venanzi. De Main took the microphone as the guests found their

seats in the ballroom, welcoming all, following a most eloquent intro by

ball chair Marshall.

Applause filled the ballroom in appreciation of De Main’s efforts,

echoing the sentiments of Sorosky. A five-course dinner began with a

seafood cocktail as opera stars Elizabeth Futral and Loius Otey charmed

the dinner crowd with their vocal talents.

The Marriott ballroom was an ideal venue for the ball. The feeling was

grand, yet intimate as hundreds of handsome guests mingled and

table-hopped to enjoy the affair with friends. The menu was lovingly and

painstakingly orchestrated by Irene Mathews. The main course of veal was

far and away beyond hotel standards, as was each of the five courses

served in the French tradition.

Further, the table decor was elegant, featuring tall silver candelabras

adorned with white and green flora perched high above eye level.

“We can see everything,” mused classy and pretty Ellie Faber, supporting

Opera Pacific with her husband, Barry Faber.

Twyla Martin was possibly the best dressed woman of the evening. Wearing

a strapless ball gown of shimmering burgundy and silver gray fabric,

flowing out at the waist and to the floor in Cinderella style, Martin and

her husband, Charles, dazzled the dinner crowd including Bill and Laila

Conlin, Jerry and Maralou Harrington, Jeanette Segerstrom, Sally

Segerstrom Daniels and her husband, John Daniels, Michele Rohe, Mark and

Barbara Johnson, Marsha Orlin, Patrick Seaver, chairman of the Opera

Board, Martin Hubbard, president and executive director and Jim and Nora

Johnson. Dancing to the Frank Amoss Orchestra took the crowd into the

late hours of the evening in great style.

Only one item was featured for auction during the evening. A magnificent

painting of the three tenors by renowned artist Aldo Luongo --

commissioned by Martin and Margie Hubbard and Paul and Marybelle Musco

and donated to Opera Pacific for auction -- drew tremendous interest and

a strong five-figure selling price for the company. “Fin de Siecle” ended

the century in high fashion for Opera Pacific. The future is surely

bright.

The Planned Parenthood luncheon featuring special guest Emily Lyon will

take place Nov. 3 at noon at the Balboa Bay Club. Tickets are available.

For more information, call Kimberly Chapman at (714) 633-6373.

B.W. COOK’S column appears every Thursday and Saturday.