Opera Pacific Gala: Music to Their Ears

Launching Orange County’s summer society season, Opera Pacific staged a romantic “Evening in Seville” on Saturday at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art.

The event marked the first time the annual Gold Ring Society of Founder’s gala had been staged in a public venue.

“The founders of Opera Pacific have always had their annual summer party in a private home,” said Maggie Price, gala co-chairwoman with Nancy Sorosky and a 25-year supporter of the opera company. “But it’s become difficult to find a home that can accommodate a lot of people, so we chose to come to the Bowers.”

With its tree-studded courtyard, gushing fountain and charming porticoes, the Santa Ana museum was the ideal backdrop for the alfresco celebration that raised $65,000 for Opera Pacific’s operations and community outreach programs.

Hundreds of people dined on rack of lamb and chocolate souffle. Along with flamenco dancers, entertainment was provided by soprano Robin Follman--who will perform the role of Micaela in Opera Pacific’s “Carmen” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in February--and Les Brown’s Band of Renown.

The buzz: The donation last week of $5 million to Opera Pacific by billionaire computer chip manufacturer Henry Samueli and his wife, Susan, of Newport Beach.

“It sure helps to have a backup,” Price said. “But we still need to raise money.”

Martin Hubbard, executive director of Opera Pacific, called the grant to the opera company’s endowment fund “a great gift.”

“But let me put it in context,” he told the crowd. “Our budget this coming year is just over $7 million and the Samueli gift will give us endowment proceeds of $250,000 a year. We take in $3.5 million from ticket sales and the balance has to come from our fund-raising efforts, so don’t think we’re rich. We’re not--but we’re much healthier than we’ve been in the past.”

Also on the program: A tribute to Orange County philanthropists Mary and Peter Muth.

“They have been longtime supporters of all of the arts organizations in Orange County,” Hubbard noted. “Every art form in this county has been the beneficiary of Peter and Mary’s love of the arts.”

Guests also included Sandi Jackson, who will serve as co-chairwoman with Susan Samueli of the Opera Ball on Feb. 3.

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Ann Conway can be reached at (714) 966-5952 or by e-mail at ann.conway@latimes.com.