RSVP : Like a Scene From ‘Oliver Twist’

From the opening wassail to the final “Silent Night,” the spirit of the holiday season rang out loud and clear at the Charles Dickens dinner Friday. The USC Friends of Music host the annual event to raise funds for scholarships at the university’s School of Music.

The Crystal Ballroom at the Biltmore was trimmed with traditional Christmas decor--pine, poinsettias, fairy lights, red ribbons, carriage lanterns. There was a ceiling-high tree, and the USC Chamber Singers and winds and percussion musicians performed from the balcony as guests made their way to dinner.

Scampering around for added atmosphere were the children of Friends members decked out as Dickens characters. Matthew Reale was the Artful Dodger and Cassa Kaminski a street urchin.

Among the more than 400 guests in modern evening wear were Joyce Spraska, Flora Thornton, Ruth and Walter McBee, and Joern Martin.

The dean of the School of Music, Larry Livingston, included the admonition, “Leave your diet,” in his welcoming toast. Each course of the “sumptuous feast” was introduced with musical accompaniment, and the “roast beef of olde England” was paraded around the tables, although the meat on the plate was continental style filet mignon with portelaise sauce.

Then the carolers brought their music downstairs to the stage and a scholarship presentation was made in the name of the evening’s honoree, Michael Feinstein. The recipient was Robert Thies, who is studying for his master’s degree in piano performance.

As a tribute to Feinstein, Thies played Gershwin’s Prelude No. 1, which prompted Feinstein to tease: “That was a flawless performance and I never want to speak to you again.”

More seriously, the Gershwin scholar, composer and performer talked about “the sense of continuum” he felt as guest of honor at an evening that keeps music traditions alive.

Lauding Feinstein for his friendship and talent were Nancy Olson Livingston and Armen Guzelimian. Benefit chairwoman Kathryn Fauble said: “What really knocks me out about Michael is that when you are done hearing him, you just wish he was a terrific friend and you could call him up any time.”

“My number is 213 . . . “ responded Feinstein, after he had received the Dickens Award presented by his friend Liza Minelli.

Feinstein was happy to perform a Gershwin melody, and the crowd was even happier when Minelli joined him, impromptu, for a duet of her godmother Kaye Thompson’s “Am I in Love With You or the Violin?”