Tribute to Ahmanson Blooms in January

Wallis Annenberg writes that Caroline Ahmanson “is not only one of the loveliest flowers in the world’s garden, but also a rare, wonderful and very determined bloom whose vision, strength of character and dedication have made the whole garden a better place for the rest of us to grow.”

It’s the message in Dinner Committee patron letters, just out for a major Ahmanson tribute Jan. 26 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire.

Otis and Bettina Chandler will serve as honorary chairs. Jane and Michael Eisner will be dinner chairs. Phyllis Hennigan, Marcia Hobbs and Andrea Van de Kamp will join Annenberg as tribute co-chairwomen.

Ahmanson has asked that the evening benefit an institution close to her heart: the Music Center Education Division.

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Circle Red: The Founders League of the Music Center is forging ahead on its gala tribute Thursday to Gordon Davidson, in celebration of his 30 years of leadership of the Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre.

The affair will launch the world premiere engagement of Neil Simon’s “Proposals.” A dinner dance in the Music Center Plaza with the Peter Duchin Orchestra will follow.

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Getting Along: The world needs to understand China to get along with it. That was the message from Maurice R. Greenberg, who keynoted the Asia Society California Center black tie / Asian attire dinner at the Inter-Continental on June 24.

Greenberg, chairman of the Asia Society and chairman and CEO of American International Group Inc., the international insurance organization, captivated a large audience including the city’s international consular corps members with his comments: “It is important that America does not interfere with China. . . . There is more than one way to heaven. They think group values are more important; we think individual values are more important. They will learn from us--what our values are, how we treat people. We will learn from them.”

John D. Rockefeller III founded the Asia Society in 1956. The goal remains the same: to build bridges of understanding. California Treasurer Matt Fong presented Arco an award for community service. Mayor Richard Riordan praised Arco “for being more involved in the city of Los Angeles than any other corporation.”

Consuls in the audience included Robert J. O’Donovan, Australia, with his wife Moya; Mohammad-al-Haroon, Bangladesh, with his wife, Nina; H.E.C.R. Balachandra, India; and Asma Anisa, Pakistan.

David I. Fisher, chairman of the Capital Group Cos. Inc., chaired the dinner.

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Fortunate: Music is filling the summer evenings in Southland cities. The Hollywood Bowl is in action. Pasadena, Beverly Hills and Montecito all have major social events in progress too. For the first time, the Pasadena Symphony will celebrate the start of its season--its 70th--with an outdoor concert. Set for Saturday on the lawn at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, “Mozart by Moonlight” will be conducted by music director Jorge Mester.

Barbara Steinwedell, Pasadena Symphony president, notes that more than 1,300 will sit on cushioned white Regal Rents chairs. The affair sold out in two weeks. “We could have sold 2,000 seats,” said executive director Wayne Shilkret.

Thanks to Ida Hull Lloyd Crotty, longtime friend of the symphony and of the library (her late husband, Homer, was chairman of the Huntington), a $125,000 grant will underwrite the evening, which is not a fund-raiser.

Originally, a gourmet dinner was to follow the concert, but demand forced cancellation of that idea. Now 200 will dine pre-Mozart at the nearby Caltech Atheneum.

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In Beverly Hills: A late afternoon “Mad About Opera” program at Greystone Park is scheduled for July 20. The Santa Ceclia Opera Company plans an afternoon of romantic music beginning at 4:30 p.m. It is part of the Beverly Hills Live Series.

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In Santa Barbara: The Music Academy of the West, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its eight-week summer school and festival, began June 23 and will be in session until Aug. 16. More than 200 public events--recitals, concerts and master classes--are underway at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre and on the Music Academy campus.

Elsewhere on the Social Circuit

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The Medici Awards will be given by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce on Thursday at the Hotel Inter-Continental. Cocktails in the Watercourt and dinner later in the Bunker Hill Ballroom will honor Richard D. Colburn, the J. Paul Getty Trust / Harold M. Williams, the McDonnell Douglas Employees Community Fund, Santa Monica Place and United Airlines.