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Home , Alberta Hunter, Edward Villella, Gian Carlo Menotti, Mary Martin, Melissa Hayden (dancer)

THE TIMES. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4. 1978 Washington Honors 5 in the Arts

By BARBARA GAMAREKIAN

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 — As legend­ ary and luminous figures from the musical comedy, , the dance, theater, film and classical music streamed into the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in their black-tie finery this evening, one be­ came convinced that footlights across the countryside must be dimmed—and Broadway dark. For the entire per­ forming arts community appeared to have gathered for one momentous sen­ timental evening under one roof. The occasion was to honor five art­ ists who had been chosen as the first re­ cipients of the annual : , Fred As­ taire, , and Arthur Rubinstein. As they sat in the box tier of the Opera House — to the right of Presi­ dent and Mrs. Carter — their friends, colleagues and admirers, whose lives had been influenced and touched by lheir brilliance, paid tribute to them through film, song and the dance. Personal Tributes There were verbal offerings as well. Old friends with personal words for their mentors: to Mr. Balanchine; to Miss Anderson; Douglas Fairbanks Jr. to Fred Astaire; Isaac Stem to Mr. Rubinstein, and to Mr. Rodgers. “He’s the one person I will never, never wash out of my hair,” said Mary Martin of Richard Rodgers. And Harry Belafonte, looking up to Marian Ander­ son, said, “For us who raise our voices Arthur and Aniela Rubinstein as they were greeted by President and Mrs. Carter at the White House last night. Mr. — in song, there is one person who has Rubinstein, the composer, was one of five artists chosen as the first recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. been both an artistic pioneer and a spiritual inspiration.” know, the more I think about it the But Mr. Stem’s remarks perhaps blond tresses could be glimpsed over . the Todd Duncans, the Eugene Isto-* conveyed best the sense of continuity Walter Cronkite’s shoulder, and Vera more I feel that it is a bit difficult to put mins, , Estelle Par­ and inspiration that artists had discov­ Zorina chatted with the Jody Powells. into words all the things you actually sons, , Jacques d’Amboise ered in the work of these five, when he Roger L. Stevens, chairman of the feel. It is wonderful to say we are very and . said of Mr. Rubinstein, “Any musician Kennedy Center, said the idea behind grateful and thankful for this great Putting the evening together was an when he plays has somewhere in the the honors program, initiated this year, honor, but that does not touch exactly enormous undertaking, likened to back of his ears the influence and the “is to help build more enthusiasm for the spring from which my feelings “choreographing a hurricane” by Wil­ sound of Rubinstein.” the performing arts and bring the pub­ come — there are many many words, liam Harbach, the television producer The two-hour program, divided into lic’s attention to the artist’s true place but none are adequate. ” who joined Nick Vanoff and George five segments each focusing on one of in society.” “It’s wonderful, wonderful,” said Stevens J r. to lend a hand with the Ken­ the honorees, ranged from Grace Bum­ ‘They Honor Us’ Mr. Rodgers who learned esophageal ney Center production, which will be bry singing “Vissi d’Arte” and Aretha At an earlier White House reception speech after his laryngectomy four shown on CBS-TV Tuesday evening. Franklin and the Howard University proceeding the gala, President Carter years ago. “Presenting medals and making Choir singing gospel music to 83-year- told the assembled throng of 700 “these It was Alberta Hunter’s first visit to speeches is not what this is all about,” old Alberta Hunter, whose hot rendition five people — Americans, great .be­ the White House and “I’m thrilled to be said Mr. Stevens. “It is to celebrate the of “I Cried for You” sent the crowd into loved — come here tonight to be hon­ able to say hello to my President,” she performing arts and to honor these five a frenzy of stomping, and Leonard ored through the auspices of the ' said. people — these definitive artists who Bernstein and the entire company of Kennedy Center, but as a matter of fact “It gives the arts some aristocracy,” have set the pace. ’ ’ “.” they come here to honor us and all the said Alan Lerner of the occasion. “ I He recalled the words of President A Rodgers medley was sung by Tony people of the world. ’ ’ think it is the best thing that has hap- Kennedy at a fund-raiser for the pro­ Bennett, Florence Henderson and John Tne five honorees had arrived at the pened in the arts in this country — yov. posed center when it was but a dream: Raitt, and Peter Martins and Suzanne White House wearing their rather can be knighted in England and they “I look forward to an America which Farrell of the Ballet avant-garde medal with its garland of have the Legion de Honoré in , will not be afraid of grace and beauty danced a pas de deux. seven ribbons in brilliant hues except but this is the first time we have had ... which will reward achievement in In the audience of 2,000, Swifty Lazar for Mr. Rubinstein who said that “it national recognition for excellence in the arts as we reward achievement in sat elbow to elbow with David Brink- makes me look like a prize bull.” the arts in this country. business or statecraft. ” ley; Gerald Rafshoon found himself on Miss Anderson was asked how she Glimpsed in the milling crowd were “That’s what it is really all about,” Alicia Alonso’s right; ’s felt about the evening. She said: “You the Neil Diamonds, the Ben Vereens, said Mr. Stevens. , MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1978 5 in Arts Honored At Gala in Capital stein, sang “ A Simple Song” from By BARBARA GAMAREKIAN “Mass,” the inaugural work for the Kennedy Center, accompanied by its Special to The New York Times composer,, and the WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 — As legend­ orchestra. ary and luminous figures from the A Rodgers medley was sung by Tony musical comedy, opera, the dance, Bennett, Florence Henderson and John theater, film and classical music Raitt, and Peter Martins and Suzanne streamed into the John F. Kennedy Farrell of the Center for the Performing Arts in their danced a pas de deux. black-tie finery this evening, one be­ In the audience of 2,000, Swifty Lazar came convinced that footlights across sat elbow to elbow with David Brink- the countryside must be dimmed—and ley; Gerald Rafshoon found himself on George Balanchine Arthur Rubinstein Broadway dark. For the entire per­ Alicia Alonso’s right; Ginger Rogers’s forming arts community appeared to blond tresses could be glimpsed over have gathered for one momentous sen­ Walter Cronkite’s shoulder, and Vera timental evening under one roof. Zorina chatted with the Jody Powell. The occasion was to honor five art­ Roger L. Stevens, chairman of the ists who had been chosen as the first re­ Kennedy Center, said the idea behind cipients of the annual Kennedy Center the honors program, initiated this year, Honors: Marian Anderson, Fred As­ “is to help build more enthusiasm for taire, George Balanchine, Richard the performing arts and bring the pub­ Rodgers and Arthur Rubinstein. lic’s attention to the artist’s true place And it truly was a celebration of their in society.” lives as well as of their art. A'Small Dinner* As they sat in the box tier of the Opera House — to the right of Presi­ At the White House reception for 700 dent and Mrs. Carter — their friends, that preceded the gala, the five hono­ colleagues and admirers, whose lives rees arrived wearing around their necks the rather avant-garde medal had been influenced and touched by with its garland of seven ribbons in their brilliance, paid tribute to them brilliant hues. The medals had been through film, song and the dance. presented to them at what Mr. Stevens Personal Tributes termed a “small dinner” for 200 guests There were verbal offerings as well. the preceding evening. The dinner was Old friends with personal words for without fanfare and press coverage, as their mentors: Edward Villella to Mr. it was felt that the artists would find Balanchine; Harry Belafonte to Miss the continuous public glare too tiring. Anderson; Douglas Fairbanks Jr. to Miss Anderson was asked how she Fred Astaire; Isaac Stem to Mr. felt about the evening. She said: “You playing Mozart. In a room in which a Rubinstein, and Mary Martin to Mr. know, the more I think about it the sparkling waterfall played aganst the Rodgers. more I feel that it is a bit difficult to put floor-to-ceiling wall of glass, they dined “He’s the one person I will never, into words all the things you actually amid palm and lollypop trees. never wash out of my hair,’’ said Mary feel. It is wonderful to say we are very Putting the evening together was an Martin of Richard Rodgers. And Harry grateful and thankful for this great enormous undertaking, likened to Belafonte, looking up to where Marian honor, but that does not touch exactly “choreographing a hurricane” by Wil­ Anderson was sitting, said, “For us the spring from which my feelings liam Harbach, the television producer who raise our voices in song, there is come — there are many many words, who joined Nick Vanoff and George one person who has been both an artis­ but none are adequate.” Stevens Jr. to lend a hand with the Ken­ tic pioneer and a spiritual inspiration.” As President and Mrs. Carter and the ney Center production, which will be But Mr. Stem’s remarks perhaps five artists greeted guests, others shown on CBS-TV Tuesday evening. conveyed best the sense of continuity sipped white wine, nibbled on cocktail “Presenting medals and making and inspiration that artists had discov­ food and wandered about the flower-be­ speeches is not what this is all about, ered in the work of these five, when he decked rooms, the Marine Corps or­ said Mr. Stevens, who had taken a said of Mr. Rubinstein, “Any musician chestra playing softly in the back­ leave of absence from his job as direc­ when he plays has somewhere in the ground. tor of the American Film Institute. “It back of his ears the influence and the It, too, was a mix of official Washing­ is to celebrate the performing arts and sound of Rubinstein.” ton and the more glittering world of the to honor these five people — these The two-hour program, which was performing artist. definitive artists who have set the divided into five segments, each focus­ Glimpsed in the milling crowd were pace.” ing chi one of the honorees, ranged from the Neil Diamonds, the Ben Vereens, He recalled the words of President Grace Bumbry singing “Vissi d’Arte” the Todd Duncans, the Eugene Isto­ Kennedy at a fund-raiser for the pro­ and arid the Howard mins, Melissa Hayden, Warren Beatty, posed cultural center when it was but a University Choir singing gospel music Geoffrey Holder, Steve Martin, Estelle dream on architectural drawing to Alberta Hunter with her rendition of Parsons, Twyla Tharp, Richard Drey­ boards: “I look forward to an America “I Cried for You” and Leonard Bern­ fuss, Jacques d’Amboise, Colleen which will not be afraid of grace arid stein and the entire company of “A Dewhurst ¿nd Gian Carlo Menotti. beauty ... which will reward achieve­ Chorus Line.” After the gala, there was yet more. ment in the arts as we reward achieve­ There was an unannounced addition Guests were bused to the new East ment in business or statecraft. ” to the program — a special surprise for Wing of the National Gallery, where “That’s what it is really all about,” said Mr. Stevens. Mr. Rubinstein. His son, John Rubin­ they were welcomed by a string trio Richard Rodgers