MUSIC AND MAGIC
It was a scene right out of Casanova and Carnivale as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra put on a lavish bash at the Biltmore that still has people talking. Chamber fans know to expect an evening of excellence when it comes to the annual gala, but this year’s elegant affair was pure magic.
The backdrop couldn’t have been more majestic as the Tiffany room was transformed into a palatial Italian villa. From the moment gala guests arrived they were taken back in time to 17th-century Venice, greeted by a cast of courtiers dressed up in cleavage-bearing bustiers, sweeping crinoline skirts, classic tri-corn hats and elaborate feathered masks.
They sipped traditional Bellinis in the Tiffany Room before settling into their salmon-colored seats for an unforgettable chamber performance. Once again, committee chair Joyce Fienberg put on quite a show. “Most events are stodgy and filled with speeches,” Joyce explains. “This is different and we have so much fun doing it.”
The program featured cheeky theatrical vignettes in English and Italian produced by Dina Morrone interspersed with magnificent selections from the chamber and its Musical Director Jeffrey Kahane. Music of the period, including Correlli’s Concerto Grasso in B-flat Major and Vivaldi’s Concerto in A Minor for Two Violins, were among the highlights.
This year’s change of venue from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to the Biltmore’s Crystal Room was an outstanding move. The acoustics were exquisite and the trumpet for Torelli’s Sonata in D Minor rang out with spine-tingling clarity. All the while, we followed the journey of an aspiring young singer and a lusty Roman cardinal who turned out to be none other than the Honorable Diego Brasioli, counsel general of Italy. Signor Brasioli had a wonderful time showing off his fun side. And if the diplomatic thing doesn’t work out, he could certainly launch a second career on the stage. After a standing ovation, music lovers followed a colorfully clad stilt walker to a reception area for a post concert reception. There was also a live auction, which featured deluxe travel treats such as an Italian retreat at the famed Montecatini Terme in Tuscany and a Van Gogh-themed week in Provence.
An army of Biltmore staffers meantime scrambled to pull off an amazing presto-chango. With military precision, they managed to break down the stage and set up a stunning dining room for 300. A mere 90 minutes later, they had dozens of tables dramatically dressed in rich burgundy brocade with matching silk chairs, topped by towering centerpieces of blush roses, orchids and ostrich feathers. Millennium Biltmore kitchens turned out a delectable spread of antipasto, Cornish game hen and the Italian chef’s signature risotto. After a desert of chocolate mango mousse, LACO changed its tune. Mora’s Modern Rhythmists had revelers dancing until the midnight hour.
The gala raised $225,000, making it LACO’s most successful event yet. Stupenda!