A Loverly Gala Concert

With Molly Mitchell passing out peach roses from a basket to all the women guests, the New York Philharmonic’s dinner Wednesday after a performance of “My Fair Lady” was “loverly” indeed.

“Wasn’t that adorable?” board member Karen LeFrak said, adding, “I played Eliza Doolittle in high school.”

The performance brought together talent from Broadway and opera on stage with the orchestra. “That’s the big kick, working in front of the orchestra, that’s why you do it,” actor Brian Dennehy said.

“It takes everything to a whole new level,” actor Kelli O’Hara said. “The orchestra is a character in the show. You feel them, the sound coming up through your feet. I hope Broadway doesn’t lose this kind of professionalism by resorting to synthesizers and cutting the orchestras.”

Opera singer Philippe Castagner said the production was “very different” from an opera, but that the music was so well written, “Someone who listens to Mozart could enjoy this just as much.”

Book – and Pillow – Talk

When the chairman and chief executive of Loews Hotels, Jonathan Tisch, titled his new book “Chocolates on the Pillow Aren’t Enough,” he begged the question, “What else does one need on one’s pillow?” I posed this question at Mr. Tisch’s book party at the Four Seasons Wednesday night. Tina Brown said, “Jon Tisch.” Liz Robbins said, “George Clooney.” The president and chief executive of NBC, Jeff Zucker, kept his mind on business with his answer: “a remote.” The editorial director of MSNBC, Davidson Goldin, was all pleasure in his answer: “I’d like six chocolates — five milk chocolates and one dark chocolate, the purpose of which is to remind me why I prefer milk.” Mr. Goldin just got what he asked for in the party goody bag, which contained a copy of the book, written with Karl Weber and published by Wiley, and a milk chocolate bar.

agordon@nysun.com