It Seems Like Old Times at Musicale

Rather like a perennial that opens its petals only on frosty mornings, or like a favorite ornament always found at the bottom of the Christmas box, the season, for a goodly number of music fans, would not be the season without the annual Opera-Symphony Christmas Musicale.

This relatively-- relatively --homespun afternoon fete always seems fraught with nuances of the snows of yesteryear, even though its traditional setting is anything but traditional. The 16th annual event, given Saturday, played out as always in the strikingly modern house and on the expansive grounds of the Sahm estate, whose owners, Roland and Ramona Sahm, periodically lend the premises for the benefit the performing arts and charities.

So much seems the same about the musicale from year to year that it takes on the air of something timeless rather than current, which, several guests said, is a welcome bonus because the passage of time thus seems thwarted. But many of those who assembled near the massive indoor pool for the two musical programs said they return annually simply because the holidays wouldn’t be the holidays without the mixed program of sacred music and traditional carols.

San Diego’s own internationally known soprano, Carol Neblett, joined the San Diego Master Chorale among the low forests of poinsettias that flanked the pool to offer “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming” by Praetorius, “The Wassail Song,” Mozart’s “Sanctus” and other selections to an audience that totaled some 460 over two shifts. The prayer-like tone in which the singers offered “Silent Night” belied the hot blue skies that burned outdoors.

Most guests sat in rapt attention through the selections from Handel’s “Messiah” and “The Hallelujah Chorus,” but a few, as always, found the siren songs of the tented buffets irresistible, and sneaked off for freshly carved turkey and ham before the program was half complete. Menu chair Jerrie Strom, like many of the committee members a perennial volunteer, returned for the 16th year running to design the buffets, which extended to quiche-stuffed new potatoes, pumpkin and corn relish tarts, buche de Noel and even fruitcake, which, despite its popularly bad reputation, vanished quickly from the display. Not-too-distantly voiced “hallelujahs” underscored many a bite of the French Gourmet-catered curried chicken in pastry.

Neblett and members of the chorale joined guests at the tables during the break between the first and second programs.

Through the years, Ramona Sahm has underwritten all the day’s expenses, and, including this year’s event, more than $300,000 has been raised for the San Diego Opera and the San Diego Symphony. The opera’s Rancho Santa Fe Guild and the symphony’s Rancho Santa Fe Auxiliary always sponsor the afternoon. Elsie Weston, a longtime supporter of both organizations, represented the opera as event co-chair, with symphony supporter Marion Miller. Weston said she has chaired at least six of the musicales and has assembled the musical program for all of them.

“People come year after year just because of the top quality of the music, but also because they can simply relax and eat and drink while listening to beautiful voices,” she said.

The committee also included Emma Lee Powell, Lorena Foss, Leila McLaughlin, Frances Hunter, Muriel Arnold, Lu Gage, Roma Rentz, Lois Lange, Sybil Gordon, Angela Matthews, Merriam Ames, Margaret Gooding, Lois Zipse, Harper Scatena, Helen Malugen, Betty Coats and Nona Killmar.

SAN DIEGO--Lois Kolender was in town last week and was quick to point out that--among the changes that have taken place in her life since she and her husband, former Police Chief Bill Kolender, moved to Sacramento--she left San Diego a blonde and returned a brunette.

The Kolenders appeared at a belated farewell given at the U.S Grant last Thursday by the San Diego Men’s Chapter of the American ORT (the acronym has officially replaced the formal name, Organization through Rehabilitation and Training), a century-old Jewish charity that operates technical schools and other education programs in the United States and abroad.

Bill Kolender briefly served as chairman of the recently revitalized San Diego chapter before accepting an offer from Gov. Pete Wilson to head the California Youth Authority. At the event, it was announced that a scholarship named for the Kolenders has been established to “support the educational values of both the Kolenders and ORT.”

“ORT’s philosophy is to give young people a sense of dignity and independence,” said national ORT Vice President Marshall Jacobson. “San Diegans should be glad to support a group that extends this philosophy throughout the world.”

The Kolenders seemed glad to support that philosophy, but also simply to be back in town, although both of them said they find Sacramento sufficiently congenial.

“I love my job, I’m having fun,” Bill said. “I’ve got 5,300 employees and all kinds of problems and I love it. We’re the last hurrah for the kids in this state.” He added that he has had to buy a topcoat since moving north. “It’s cold as hell up there,” he said.

“I had goose bumps on top of goose bumps when I left Sacramento this morning,” said Lois. “To fly into San Diego and see that good old faithful sunshine was wonderful.”

Also wonderful, apparently, was to be in the same town as a reliable hairdresser who understands the client’s preferred tint.

“It always takes time to find your way around a new town, to find the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,” Lois said. “I just didn’t expect a Sacramento salon to change me into a brunette.”

The guest list included new San Diego ORT chairman Barry Berelowitz; Betty and John Mabee; Larry Cushman; Virginia and Glenn Napierskie; Erendira and Donald Able; Morris Casuto; Iris and Bill Meyrick; Valerie and Bill Sparrow: Carol and Chuck Swimmer; Alice and Morris Wax; Bruce Hazard, and Ted Hurwitz.