N.Y. AIDS Benefit Raises $1.3 Million

Bette Midler and Mikhail Baryshnikov were among the stars who appeared at the Metropolitan Opera House on Sunday night to raise $1.3 million in the fight against AIDS and show that “caring and concern are spreading faster” than the disease.

To thunderous applause, Mayor Edward I. Koch strolled into the spotlight and declared that “the city of New York will do its part and more” to assist the groups for which the fund-raiser is being held: the AIDS Medical Foundation, the AIDS Resource Center and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis.

The show, “The Best of the Best: a Show of Concern,” was designed to demonstrate that “caring and concern are spreading faster than AIDS,” producer Barry Brown said.

Parade of Stars

Following Brown onto the stage of the ornate opera house were Midler; Victor Borge; Christopher Reeve; Lily Tomlin; Brooke Shields; the Count Basie Orchestra; Carol Burnett; Colleen Dewhurst; Marilyn Horne; the McGuire Sisters; Leslie Brown; Baryshnikov and other members of the American Ballet Theater, and the cast of the Broadway musical “La Cage aux Folles.”

Sex therapist Ruth Westheimer also appeared at the event. “I don’t sing or dance,” Westheimer said. “All I do is talk about relationships and good sex.”

Reeve, who has played “Superman” in films, then introduced the Met’s music director, James Levine. Levine conducted the orchestra and accompanied Horne on the piano as she sang “Danny Boy.”

Many Groups Participate

The benefit was organized by the AIDS Benefit Committee of the Actor’s Equity Foundation with the help of 23 other entertainment groups and unions. Ticket prices ranged from $25 to $1,000 for box seats.

The show was similar to a benefit held in September in California. With stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Burt Reynolds, Shirley MacLaine and former First Lady Betty Ford, the West Coast event raised $1 million for AIDS Project Los Angeles, which is using the money for education and to support victims.