Jonathan Soroff

Don’t Tell Mozart…

Pop Quiz: There’s only one composer’s name carved into the proscenium arch at Symphony Hall. Whose is it?

If you answered Beethoven, give yourself a gold star, and that’s why the nothing-but-Ludwig-van program for Opening Night at Symphony was especially appropriate.

On hand for the concert that Itzhak Perlman both conducted AND played in, and the black-tie blowout that followed, was every Who from Who’s Whoville, among them cochairs Steve and Roberta Weiner, investment deity Peter Lynch and the beautiful blonde Carolyn, food supply titan Karen Bressler and her handsome husband, Scott Epstein, Pill Hillions Coco and Kyra Montague, the ever affable Roger Servison, bright young things Jonathan and Amy Poorvu, top cat Jack Connors and the flawless Eileen, philanthroposaurus Rex David Mugar, über benefactors Ray and Maria Stata and Diddy and John Cullinane, MFA head honcho Malcolm Rogers, world-famous heart specialist Larry Cohn and the lovely Roberta, and one woman who had to extricate herself from a conversation during the cocktail hour because the man she was speaking to kept spitting bits of food on
her gown.

After a performance that earned a thunderous standing ovation, dinner was served in a tent decorated to a fare-thee-well with orchids, dramatic lighting (including the chandeliers used at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding) and a stage where musicians serenaded the guests during their meal. In short, it was quite the glitzy kickoff to the season.

Now for a fun tidbit: Why is Beethoven the only name carved into the proscenium arch, despite the fact that there are eight other medallions that were originally intended to have composer’s names? The BSO’s founders couldn’t reach a consensus on who else deserved to be up there.

Beauty Secrets of the Rich and Famous…

Take the stunning scenery of the Boston Harbor Islands, add an organic farm and a few of Boston’s best chefs, stir in a fabulous crowd, and you’ve got the recipe for the Harvest Dinner hosted by The Friends of Boston’s Homeless.

A benefit for the Serving Ourselves Farm, which provides both food and food-related job training for the homeless clients of the Long Island Shelter, the evening began with drinks by the barn, where guests waved off the mosquitoes and were wowed by the sunset. After checking out the new chicken coop, everyone repaired to the beautifully decorated dining hall at Camp Harbor View, for an autumnal feast prepared by top chefs Tony Penezic, Dave Becker, Chris Douglass, Matthew Audette and Joanne Chang.

Present and accounted for: fabulous do-gooder Iman Abdul Musawwir and her smokingly hot date, Matthew Pidge, the soignée Marie Keutmann with the dapper Richard Vignoni, rabble-rousing fashion icon Doris Yaffe, the beyond fabulous Mo Rosenthal and her handsome other half, John, Globe grand poobah Marty Baron, restaurateurs Garrett Harker and Patrick Lee, and one guest who said, “I know it’s a homeless shelter, but you could charge $1,200 a night for this view of the skyline.” 

Overheard during the course of the evening:

“You look marvelous!”

“Thanks. It must be the combination of eating enough for a family of four and binge drinking nightly.”