::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

ÒThrilling to hear her voice É magnificent, isnÕt it?Ó assessed our favorite Beverly Hills operaphile, cardiologist Harold Karpman about Susan Graham during the reception after our L.A. OperaÕs premiere of The Merry Widow. Mezzo-soprano Susan costars in Franz LeharÕs operetta with Rodney Gilfrey, the Claremont-born baritone known around the world. Renowned as well is Southwest-born Susan, a diva sans attitude and with an angelic voice from GodÕs country. Susan recently made her acclaimed L.A. Opera debut in a vastly different title role as the second wife of the Emperor Nero in Claudio MonteverdiÕs The Coronation of Poppea. Harold joined guests at the supper party in the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where the cast was introduced by Marc Stern, chairman and CEO of the board of directors, whoÕs contributed major monies, as has Harold to insure our opera company remains among the best. ÒOperaÕs the second most expensive business in the world,Ó Marc noted, adding that Òthe most expensive business is war.Ó An evening of exultant voices and kaleidoscopic splendor was the consensus from the operagoers, with Harold Karpman and L.A. OperaÕs CFO Mitch Heskel and wife Marci praising Peggy HickeyÕs whirling-dervish choreography, the Art Nouveau settings by Michael Yeargan, Thierry BosquetÕs ravishing fin de siecle costumes, and the varied moods created by lighting designer Mary Louise Geiger. Harold also lauded the conducting of Sebastian Lang-Lessing and the direction of Lofti Mansouri. Curiously, a scene at MaximÕs with its curved staircase has gorgeous Susan in her flaming-red gown entering at the top of the stairs and one is tilted back in time to Carol ChanningÕs unforgettable, singing and dancing down the stairs in Hello, Dolly. At the supper party with Rodney, who lives in Etiwanda, were his wife Tina, who swears heÕs a gourmet cook, and daughter Erica, a student at USC. Daughter Carin has just been accepted at Juilliard. His next engagement is starring in Frank LoesserÕs The Most Happy Fella this summer at ChicagoÕs Ravinia Festival. Harold and wife Molinda mentioned that theyÕre planning a birthday party at the Eiffel Tower for adorable granddaughter Kai-Lily Ð whoÕll be 9 in July, and is an ace goalie with the Purple Mite Kings. Also we hear that Norman Lear is flying friends to Morocco to celebrate his 85th birthday. Among our opera regulars and boosters were Lenny and Bernie Greenburg, Jackie Applebaum, Jay Weston and Annabelle Weston, who encouraged Harold Karpman to try the new Japanese restaurant Gompachi, designed at a cost of $7 million in the former Ed DebevicÕs site on La Cienega Boulevard. Annabelle promises that the Share show on June 2nd at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium will be themed around Le Jazz Hot. Remember this name: Eric Cutler, the 31-year-old star who sings the role of Camille de Rosillon and is destined for great roles. Six-feet-four-inches tall and screen-star handsome, Eric makes his Los Angeles debut in The Merry Widow, although heÕs performed in the past with the L.A. Philharmonic. L.A. Times critic Mark Swed hails Eric as Òa strong young tenor.Ó Born in the farming community of 25,000 in Adel, Iowa, Eric says his British forebears arrived in America in 1685, most likely arriving by covered wagon to the Midwest. His younger by-two-years sister Shala introduced him to opera when he was in his early teens, listening to great recordings by Giuseppe de Stefano and Jussi Bjoerling. While his opera engagements revolve on several continents, he remains based in his home state of Iowa, living in Madison County where Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep filmed the adaptation of Robert ButlerÕs bestselling novel. HeÕs built a house there, hoping to raise a family, although heÕs lately divorced. ÒOperaÕs a difficult life for a wife, the artist is continually involved in training and traveling, and one needs thick skin. And God forbid if you arenÕt careful when itÕs cold at night and your voice suffersÓ. HeÕll sing in The Magic Flute this July at the Hollywood Bowl, and is booked internationally through 2009, loves performing at Glyndebourne Ð ÒwouldnÕt mind spending three months there every year.Ó At 31, heÕs a man of the world, and while he enjoys bonding with other artists, operagoers and new friends, he chuckles, ÒStill, youÕre destined to meet an occasional a-hole!Ó ÒYou should talk to my wife Irit,Ó suggested the good Dr, Rick Ehrlich, the renowned urologist and award-winning photographer. IritÕs a successful jewelry designer, whose creations are available in Beverly Hills, Malibu and environs, and, as Rick proudly notes, ÒSheÕs deeply commited to this non-partisan mission of supporting families of those whoÕve been wounded, injured or lost their lives in combat.Ó A noble mission, indeed, Wounded Warriors was established by Marine Corps Colonel John Folsom, who says, ÒLetÕs not forget that families of our casualties suffer in many ways, emotionally, psychologically, financially. Wounded Warriors mitigates their trauma by allowing them to find peace and solace -- free of charge -- as families in family-friendly resorts. We own a fully furnished condominium unit at the Bahama Bay Resort in Orlando, Florida, where we provide passes for Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. And weÕve acquired a second property at the Victorian Resort and Conference Center in Galveston, Texas. Both are serene havens where war-damaged families reunite and become stronger. Wounded Warriors is a family-oriented program, and in order to qualify, service members must have children. Widows or widowers with dependent children are eligible, of course.Ó A Wounded Warriors Retreat is being built on 80 acres of ponderosa-studded land in northwest NebraskaÕs high country, where wild life is abundant, and activities like horseback riding, hiking, swimming, campfires will bring families closer together with memories that will last a lifetime. Tax-deductible gifts to Wounded Warriors will make it all possible for families that Abraham Lincoln said Ògave their last full measure of devotion.Ó For information, visit the website www.woundedwarriors.org. Young warriors from Earth determined to save the planet Plutonio are absorbed through their computers into a web of fairies, dreams, the hunger for power and the hopelessness of the majority were discussed by brother and sister Carlos and Charis Mundy, charming and good-looking authors from Madrid. They were introduced by Mariel Hemingway at the Robert Berman Gallery at Bergamot Station to our Design Magazine editor Marcia Hobbs, Karolina Kurkova, MaryJo Catlett, Ilene Graff, Dorian Harewood, Rip Taylor, Julie Newmar and Rose Marie. The youngsters from Earth are protagonists in the MundysÕ techno-fantasy, The Rainbow Warrior, a bestseller in Spain described as reminiscent of Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Celestine Prophecy. An endorsement from Deepak Chopra finds it Òa tale enhancing values such as universal responsibility, interdependence and compassion.Ó A percentage of royalties from book sales and film rights are being contributed to numerous foundations. First Lady Laura Bush dined at GiorgioÕs on Saturday, April 29th, with a group of 10 that included Brad Freeman and Wayne Hughes, feasting on GiorgioÕs famous polenta, ravioli with asparagus and lobster, and the delicate spigola flown in from the Mediterranean. Giorgio and wife Roberta Baldi were back from their semi-annual two-week holiday at their seaside apartment at Forte dei Marmi, where the weather was uncomfortably hot and the food not as good as expected. ÒWe preferred eating at home much more.Ó No wonder, Giorgio and Roberta are chefs to reckon with. www.bhcourier.com.