The JapanOC festival, the Henry Segerstrom-inspired collaboration among Carnegie Hall, Japanese artists and local arts groups and venues, has taken on deeper meaning in the wake of the tragedy in Japan. Barely 24 hours before the earthquake hit, renown violinist Midori was performing in Samueli Theater with Japan’s consul general in attendance. Some artists for the remaining events through April 28 will be coming directly from Japan; announcements for earthquake aid will be made prior to each performance. Says OC Philharmonic Society Artistic Director Dean Corey, “I personally am deeply moved by the Japanese culture as demonstrated by their citizens’ response to this terrible tragedy, and am readily able to draw connections to the expression of their culture through music and other art forms that I have been seeing in our festival. I hope our audience has been able to as well” …
He’s a long way from his native Libya, but Newport Beach businessman Omar Turbi is trying to topple Moammar Gadhafi and was among the most vocal advocates of international action in the run-up to the U.N.’s move last week to authorize “all necessary measures” in Libya. Turbi spent much of the prior month shuttling to Washington, D.C., and traveling in Europe. He urged congressmen, State Department officials and foreign ministers to take stronger action and to recognize the Libyan opposition’s recently formed provisional government. A human rights activist comfortable in front of TV cameras, Turbi did interviews, including 10 minutes on “PBS NewsHour.” Turbi is “optimistic” the Gadhafi regime will fall. While the U.N. action prompted Gadhafi to declare a cease-fire late last week, Turbi is critical that the international community took so long to act amid “genocide.” President Obama was “waffling” and more comfortable with Beltway insiders and think-tank types rather than “someone who knows a Libyan.” Turbi has sources close to the action, including a brother who is a doctor tending to the wounded in the bombarded rebel stronghold of Benghazi. Meanwhile, how’s business at his computer products/IT services company, Orbit Systems? Better now than in the prior two years …
It’s the 50th anniversary of the Anaheim/OC Visitor & Convention Bureau …
“Finally! After six years and four preferred rounds of financing, one of our portfolio companies went public,” e-mailed Tom Gephardt of Ventana Capital in San Juan Capistrano. Neophotonics, a San Jose maker of networking gear with nine-month revenue of $133 million, debuted Feb. 2 on the NYSE, raising $95 million …
Gloria Zigner has landed a new star for this year’s CHOC Follies, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Follies”—chef-restaurateur Pascal Olhats, making his stage debut as Pan, “the Greek Goat-Footed God of the Wilderness.” Shows run from March 31 through April 2 at Orange Coast College. Ticket info at www.choc.org/chocfollies.
