A Warmly Cold Reception for Itzhak Perlman

Talk about a scoop. Supporters of the Orange County Philharmonic Society not only gave violinist Itzhak Perlman a standing ovation Monday night, they gave him an ice cream cone.

The double-dipper was delivered on a silver tray at the Four Seasons Hotel, site of the party following Perlman’s first appearance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Erich Vollmer, executive director of the Philharmonic Society, presented the virtuoso with the marbled blob of Tastee Freeze because he remembered Perlman craving the stuff when he appeared in Orange County nine years ago.

“I wasn’t on a diet then,” joked Perlman, eyes as big as saucers over the surprise gift. “Now, I’m on a diet!”

A presentation of a more serious type was also on the agenda for the artist, who flew to California from Indiana aboard a chartered jet. (“We had to come up with a jet--his schedule is so tight,” explained Vollmer). The Orange County Chapter of the American Jewish Committee gave Perlman its International Cultural Diplomacy Award, a tribute reserved for artists “who transcend the fact that they’re fine musicians,” Vollmer said.

“This is an opportunity to embrace a dear friend who happens also to play a great fiddle,” said Michael Lapin, chairman of the local Jewish Committee chapter. Lapin told guests about Perlman’s humor, warmth and sense of family. “He has universal appeal as an artist and is a mensch with unlimited compassion,” he said.

Vollmer said: “We’re not going to let another nine years go by before he comes to this community.”

Privately, Vollmer explained that Perlman gave few recitals. The Philharmonic Society waited five years to bring him to the Center, he said. “We’ve had to stand in line. Perlman has an allegiance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic that has proved problematic in getting him down here. But we’ve prevailed. We have him, and I’m delighted. “

Party-goers sipped Chandon Brut and nibbled on swan pastries stuffed with chocolate cream (“Too pretty to eat!” pronounced Yoko Kato of Villa Park) as they awaited Perlman, who was buzzed to the Four Seasons in a limousine.

Perlman said he loved being flown to California in a Lear jet, even though he found it a “little cramped.”

“You can’t stand up in it,” he said, laughing gently. “But the nice thing about it is you don’t lose your bags. And you don’t have to wait at the airport.”

On a serious note, Perlman--who was born in Tel Aviv and left there in 1958 when he was 13--said the Persian Gulf crisis was making him feel “very worried.”

“I have relatives, including my father, there. I am just hoping that we don’t have to go to war. This is going to really be horrendous. Israel has been through a lot of similar things before, but, deep down, everybody is hoping for the best--that there are no hostilities. But who knows what is going to happen?”

Perlman, who performed in Israel two months ago and is planning a return engagement there in March, said he had spoken to his father recently. “My father said everyone is very tense. But this is not the first time Israel has been under such tension. I suppose it becomes more augmented now that the U.S. is involved. People here are duly worried, but in Israel, it’s almost common that such problems occur.”

Also on the guest list: Harry and Shari Esayian; Joanne and Ed Halvajian; Gary Hunt; Louis Knobbe; Tom Merrick; Hinda Beral; Lewis Janowsky; Howard and Louise Adler; Irvine and Eleanor Burg; Patricia Vollmer; Marion Freedman, and Michael and Nancy Meyer.

Pirates at SCR: Mark Lee’s “Pirates”--a tale of two 18th-Century female pirates and a 20th-Century female university professor--had its world premiere on Friday at South Coast Repertory Theatre. Among opening night guests was Kitty Leslie--fashion director of Newport Center Fashion Island--who was excited about the Feb. 11 fashion show she plans to stage on the “Pirates” set, complete with gang planks and billowy sails. “The models are going to be tossing 1,000 gold coins into the audience,” said Leslie, looking stylish in a shimmering bronze dress with coordinating sweater. “Of course they won’t be real .” Well, of course not.

* PERFORMANCE REVIEW: Itzhak Perlman’s concert is consistently absorbing.