AND THEY’RE OFF
A lively launch to this year’s 20th annual Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon at Spago in Beverly Hills. Jimmy may be gone but his legions of fans and friends are keeping his philanthropic spirit alive.
“It just keeps getting better every year,” explained the marathon’s Charles Mitchell. “From a chairman’s standpoint, we’ve raised a lot more money. There’s been more exposure and we have always had a lot of support because everyone loved Jimmy so much.” How much? Well, just take a look at some of the heavyweight Hollywood help — Sharon Stone, Daryl Hannah, Charlton Heston, Wolfgang Puck and Kenny Rogers have all participated in past events, and more big names are expected to step up to the starting line this year.
After humble beginnings as a 10-kilometer road race in Marina del Rey, the marathon has turned itself into a Southern California tradition. The Jimmy Stewart race is the largest five-person relay marathon in the United States. Thousands of competitors will gather on the grounds of Griffith Park on April 22 for a day of sweat, sun and fun. The event will be divided into three major categories — the 26.2-mile relay marathon, a five-mile celebrity race and a kids’ challenge. Over the years, the event has raised $7.1 million to support the work of Saint John’s Health Center’s Child and Family Development Center.
OPERATIC VISION
Malibu Bond-man Pierce Brosnan joined A-list celebs Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Sela Ward and assorted libretto lovers for a bit of night music at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as the Los Angeles Opera showcased Placido Domingo and friends. The Welcome Concert & Gala was a celebration of Domingo’s new role as the opera’s artistic director.
The evening featured a bienvenidos performed in several languages as well as a little vita loca with swinging hipster Ricky Martin. Following the program, a flock of 700 guests made its way to a tented party venue at the California Plaza for a little champagne, a light supper and the sounds of the Swingtown band.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
Legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne chimed in to help celebrate the “Golden Age of Choral Music” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The evening reunited Horne with Los Angeles Master Chorale director Paul Salamunovich as well as superstar singers Marni Nixon and Harve Presnell. The gifted trio sang with Salamunovich when they were all in the Roger Wagner Chorale way back when. “It was 1946,” the director recalled. “We were just kids then, but what a great time we had and we’ve remained friends all this time.” The program was a mixture of popular American music, Broadway tunes, folk songs and patriotic anthems from the 1950s — an era that drew choral music into the mainstream and which Salamunovich describes as one of the exciting times in choral history. The spectacular performance ended with Aaron Copland’s “The Promise of Living” and bravos all around.