‘Opus 4’ an Intimate Fund-Raiser

With a quartet of exotic courses, Michael Kang fed 50 dedicated supporters of the Laguna Chamber Music Society on Monday night at Kang’s Newport Beach restaurant, Five Feet Too.

Dubbed “Opus 4,” the intimate dinner brought together for the fourth year longtime members of the 32-year-old music support group with some newer recruits. With Kang donating the food and use of his art-filled restaurant, the $250-per-couple benefit netted about $5,000.

Society News

After years of concerts at the Laguna Beach High School, the chamber music society will present its coming season at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine. The change of venue--due to renovations at the school auditorium--was a hot topic at cocktail hour.

“I don’t want to be negative, because of course we haven’t had a concert there yet, but I’m not crazy about the move,” said Fred Lang, a nationally known landscape architect.

“We want to keep (the concerts) in Laguna,” agreed Barbara Stuart, who, like Lang, has been involved with the chamber music society since its inception.

The one-year move to Irvine (with a promise to return to school for the 1992-93 season) is being undertaken in collaboration with the Orange County Philharmonic Society. Nancy Posch, a board member of both groups, called the 750-seat Irvine Barclay “absolutely ideal” for chamber music appreciation.

“With the economic climate the way it is, and with the large number of arts groups in the county, a collaboration makes a lot of sense,” Posch said. “Chamber music is the fastest-growing segment of classical music in this country. It has been somewhat of a sleeper, but now there is tremendous interest in . . . the trios, quartets, quintets and sextets. It opens up a huge new area of repertoire.”

Of their move to the bigger theater, Ray Hendrickson, president of the chamber music group, says: “We anticipate a sellout for all six concerts.”

Who’s Who

Also among those tucked away in restaurant’s cozy bar area were Brenda Agren, who chaired the event, and Glenda van der Zaag, executive director of the group.

Nancy and Kent Snyder attended the after-work fete, as did Holly and Tom Henderson, Kitty and Hugh Breckinridge, Joan Rehnborg, Marlon McLaughlin and Nancy Jacobson.

Menu

Guests dined on Chinese black bean and goat cheese terrine with grilled corn relish; frisee and lamb lettuce salad with citrus dressing and mushroom chips; fresh swordfish topped with vegetable puree crust; and frozen hazelnut souffle with poached pears.

Each course was complemented with wine--first champagne, followed by Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Port.

Quote

Asked if there were anything new or special about this year’s fund-raiser, chairwoman Agren laughed. “What we’re doing new and special this year is hopefully making more money!” she said.