Patrons Compose Plans for Salzburg

With the fervor of college alumni, Southern Californians are flying off to Austria to offer supportive rah-rahs for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra--the first American orchestra in residence for both opera and symphony performances at the venerable Salzburg Festival.

Last week Austrian Consul General Christian Prosl and his wife, Patricia, served cocktails at their Brentwood home to celebrate the cooperation between the Philharmonic and next month’s festival.

Actually, two VIP support groups have formed. One is the Salzburg Celebration Patrons, which plans to raise $250,000 toward the cost of one month’s residency in Salzburg. The patrons include Royce and Jennifer Diener, Sid and Nancy Petersen, John and Joan Hotchkis, Henry and Ginny Mancini, David and Annabelle Begelman, Stanley and Lynn Beyer, Richard Cohen, Hal and Eunice David, Bernard and Leni Greenberg, Bob Achor, Burton and Kit Smith, Donald Alexander, Joseph and Donna LaBonte, Lee Pearce, Joyce Penido, Ron and Judith Rosen, Erna Schulhofer, Joe and Donnie Smith, Arthur Spitzer and Robert and Pam Weingarten.

The second support group, headed by Mireya Jones, includes 20 couples from different Philharmonic affiliate committees. Each couple has made a donation to help underwrite the orchestra’s residency. Collectively they will host the welcoming supper reception for the orchestra with Dr. Arno Gasteiger, vice governor of Salzburg.

The patrons will indulge in a high level of sociality. Jennifer Diener flies to Salzburg early to finalize this schedule:

Day 1, cocktails and supper on the street called Goldgasse; Day 2, a visit to Princess Marianne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn’s hunting lodge before luncheon at the nearby Schloss Fuchsl am See, famous for its beautiful setting; that night the Philharmonic conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen with Krystian Zimerman as soloist at the famous Grosses Festspielhaus; Day 3, the 4 p.m. performance of the modern opera “Saint Francois d’Assise” (directed by Salonen, staged by Peter Sellars) and a dinner at the Goldener Hirsch Hotel; Day 4, an 11 a.m. matinee by the Salzburg Mozart Orchestra at the famous Mozarteum Concert Hall, then cocktails at a private home before dinner at the quaint Peterskeller under stone archways. Day 5, a matinee performance by the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Bernard Haitink, featuring Yo-Yo Ma, then a luncheon and a lecture at Schloss Leopoldskron (the schloss was filmed in “The Sound of Music”); Day 6, luncheons at the country estates of Richard Colburn, Jonathan and Monika Hunt and Kay Sperling followed by a concert in the evening with the L.A. Philharmonic conducted by Pierre Boulez and featuring Maria Ewing; Day 7, a concert in the Mozarteum and Day 8, departure. And, maybe a nap?

EASY AS ABC: Give the ABC’s (Associates for Breast Cancer Studies) a pat on the back. In two years, it’s already raised $375,000 for the John Wayne Cancer Clinic for Breast Cancer Research. Now, Cynthia Gershman is gearing up for an Oct. 24 event to raise more for Dr. Donald Morton’s research at Saint John’s Medical Center, where the clinic has facilities.

Last week at a lavish membership cocktail party at Jimmy’s Restaurant, Gershman and husband, Hal, kicked off plans for the third “Salute to Hollywood” gala at the Beverly Hilton. Aaron and Renee Kumetz attended; they’ll receive the “Spirit of Hope” award. Donald O’Connor couldn’t make it, but he promises to appear in October to receive the “Mr. Hollywood” title.

Among guests revving up were Milton and Lorna Berle, Jack and Marilyn Barclay, Marty and Marjorie Roth, Jack and Roxanne Carter, Dr. Stan Furer, Marty and Lisa Greenberg, David and Phyllis Halpern, Ann Jeffreys, Ann Miller, James Doolittle, Manning Post and Cheryl Reventlow.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST: Charles C. Reed keeps popping those buttons. He’s reporting that the Norris Cancer Center Dinner in May at the Beverly Hilton netted $2.4 million, one of the largest amounts ever raised at a single dinner in Los Angeles. The late Dr. James Zumberge, president of USC, and the late U.S. Atty. Gen. William French Smith were honored.

SOCIAL SCENE: There’s flair in summer festivities. The Laguna Art Museum is celebrating with eight unique parties, including a mixed couples golf tournament hosted by Claudette (former Angeleno) and Don Shaw next Thursday at Pelican Hill Golf Club. Linda Isle dweller Dolores Milhous will host an Italian feast Aug. 8 with a cruise for the first 20 guests aboard her Riva yacht. Aug. 23 the Emerald Bay Dine Around kicks off with guests progressing to the Emerald Bay homes of Jany and George Gade, Joan and Ronald Lane and Carol and Gregory Lindstrom for thematic dinners.

Parties on this “Diversity in Perspectives” series continue into October. At Diana and Woody Dike’s affair Sept. 20, guests will receive art lessons from Tony Sheets before al fresco dinner and wines from the hosts’ Cottontail Creek Vineyard.

DEDICATED: Tom Malloy is finishing his second and final term as president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He leaves a legacy of $1 million for research. He’s also a major sponsor of the JDF’s first Mini-Grand Prix Saturday at Hollywood Park. Twenty-five company sponsors will race their scaled-down Indy 500-style race cars, designed to reach speeds of 35 m.p.h. Corbin Bernsen and Michelle Phillips will be among celebrities racing for diabetes. Said Malloy: “We’re going to have a racing team there, and we’re going to win.”