Principal Conductor John Mauceri was present to conduct the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Dancer and actress Ann Miller represented the past, performing hits from when she was a major MGM star. Two of today's hottest Broadway and Hollywood talents, Alan Cumming of the Broadway hit Cabaret and Lea DeLaria of On the Town represented the present. Representing the future was thirteen year old Welsh singer Charlotte Church; many have said she has "the voice of an angel."

     The mayor of Los Angeles Richard Riordan joined in to conduct a number during two of the three performances. "It was a lot of fun—Mayor Riordan was a really good sport," says Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Manager Steve Linder. He added that they really wanted this year's program to be different. "We had the idea for the guests to be from the past, present, and future. After hearing Gershwin's piano rolls, I thought it would be really great to somehow tie them in to the program, particularly since the Gershwin Memorial Concert was held at the Hollywood Bowl in 1938, and we feel a special affinity for Gershwin. I did some research and Yamaha worked with us to make it happen," says Linder. "We rolled the Disklavier out onto the stage, pressed a button, and it began to play. The Orchestra played accompaniment. The audience, particularly those in the front row who could see the keys and pedals moving, couldn't believe that it was really Gershwin."

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     Another recording from the past made its debut at the celebration. "Love for Love" was composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold for the 1947 film Escape Me Never. Someone had recorded him playing the piece at a 1951 Hollywood party. His grandson, Leslie Korngold, gave the tape to Linder who then worked to clean up the scratchy recording. "You could hear people laughing in the background and glasses clinking together," says Linder. The tape was played during the festivities, with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra playing accompaniment to the song.

     The evening ended with a rousing rendition of "Auld Lang Syne." Says Linder, "It was exactly what you'd want from a great New Year's Eve party."

Barry Manilow Donates Performance to Fight Blindness

amaha recording artist, Barry Manilow, had a very important reason for donating a performance to the Foundation Fighting Blindness at the 14th Annual Humanitarian Award Dinner. He has a close friend who is diagnosed with Stargardt's disease, an early onset form of macular degeneration. This disease, characterized by loss of central vision, is the leading cause of legal blindness in adults over 55. As the spokesperson for Foundation Fighting Blindness, Manilow generously provided his services by playing a Yamaha concert grand piano, in an effort to eradicate retinal degenerative disorders.

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