Chorale Opens 35th Season on an Italian Note

The Appian Way

The Master Chorale of Orange County opened its 35th season Saturday night with two Italian-theme parties and, in between, a production of Verdi’s Requiem at the Performing Arts Center. After the curtain dropped, about 250 chorale fans packed a gala at Gianni’s Ristorante in the Crystal Court at South Coast Plaza for wine, hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Before the concert began, 73 of the group’s most dedicated supporters met at Alfredo’s Ristorante in the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel for cocktails and a gourmet sit-down dinner. Welcoming Words

Director William Hall--whose sonorous voice is a concert in itself--mingled with the dinner crowd at Alfredo’s, then stepped up a few stairs from the sunken dining area to greet the group en masse. He praised his singers, saying, “I’ve learned that all I have to do is do the downbeat, let them come in, then follow them .” He briefly described the accomplishments of the four “superstar” soloists performing with the chorale that night--Elizabeth Biggs of the New Zealand Opera, Leslie Richards of the San Francisco Opera, Jonathan Welch of the Metropolitan Opera and Louis Lebherz of Covent Garden. Hall, beating a hasty retreat, exited as the risotto and tomato basil appetizers were being served (these were followed by a choice of entrees: grilled salmon with Italian salsa or spinach rotolo stuffed with seasoned chicken). “You guys enjoy the good food,” Hall said, laughing. “I’m going to go back to my hotel room for a cheese sandwich and a little more preparation before the concert.” Who Was There

Among the dinner guests was Donna Bunce, a frequent flier on the society circuit and member of the Master Chorale. “I eat, I sing, I do it all!” Bunce joked. Also doing it all were chorale members Gary Busby, John Rynerson, Maxine Trotter and Diane and Bob Guyett. Jim Hissey, a fan from Canoga Park, made the hour-plus drive to attend the party. Arriving from less distant points were county residents Jane and Philip Winsor, Linda and Joe Gatlin, Georgina and Stan Califf, Lois and Richard Gettys, Carol Adams, Susan Beechner, and Marcello Doffo. Nancy Sorosky--a longtime resident of the Westin South Coast Plaza, where the dinner was held--chaired the event. Quote

When this is over, I think I’m going to run upstairs and put on a nice, comfortable knit dress for the concert,” said Sorosky, who chose a nice, not-so-comfortable black crepe strapless to dine in.