2 Musicians Deny Charge of Slander : Dispute: In response to suit, the Orange County violinists defend as ‘fair comment’ their statements about the Mozart Camerata founding director.

Two Orange County musicians being sued for slander by the founding director of the Mozart Camerata denied the charges in responses filed Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court.

Violinists Endre Granat and Alexander Horvath and other, unnamed parties, were charged by Camerata director Ami Porat with “slander, interference with contract, interference with economic relationship and conspiracy” in a suit Porat filed in June. Porat’s action followed a dispute that flared after Granat, Horvath and six others told The Times they had resigned from the chamber orchestra earlier this year.

Porat’s suit alleged that statements by the musicians had caused season subscribers not to renew, union musicians not to renew contracts and contributions to fall off.

Granat and Horvath denied the accusations in a joint response. In the document, they claimed any statements they made regarding Porat or the orchestra were “justified” and fell within a legal definition of fair comment and were, therefore, legally protected against slander charges.

According to their statements, Granat and Horvath dispute Porat’s claim that he “has a good reputation in his profession.” Granat stated that he had resigned from the Camerata because of “poor quality in the musical performances due to (Porat’s) lack of ability as a conductor and leader of the orchestra,” among other reasons.

Horvath claimed that at a December concert, “due to inept conducting” the orchestra had to stop mid-performance and had to be restarted, “which was embarrassing and humiliating,” his statement said.

Both denied making any statements out of malice toward Porat. They also claimed in their responses that any losses in subscriptions and contributions were “the ordinary risks of business.”

“I’m really surprised that Mr. Porat sued (Horvath and Granat),” Vernon Hunt, a Santa Ana attorney representing the two musicians, said on Thursday. “These (comments) are matters of opinion, not defamation.”

Hunt said that he expects a court date to be set within a year.

Camerata attorney and board member Harvey Berman could not be reached for comment Thursday.