The Crowd:

It was high power meets high culture Feb. 19 on the 17th floor of the Center Tower in Costa Mesa. Guests of Deutsche Bank gathered in a glass-enclosed corner suite overlooking Orange County to welcome Monika HarmsMonika Harms, federal prosecutor general of Germany, and a contingent of distinguished associates of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, which had come to Costa Mesa for a one-night gala performance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Among the guests were Professor Andreas Schulz, director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Dr. Andreas Creuzburg, president of the Society of Friends of the Gewandhaus, and a contingent of the finest orchestral musicians in the world. The Leipzig Gewandhaus, which was founded 250 years ago, is considered a prominent force on the world’s classical music radar. Their performance at the center was a sold-out, much anticipated rarity, a most special evening for the O.C. crowd, and a one-night stop on a selective U.S. tour.

The collaboration between sponsor Deutsche Bank and the orchestra is a fundamental example of the importance of the connection between business and the arts. It is an essential relationship benefiting the entire community, not just the clients of Deutsche Bank and their partners.

“We have always been strong supporters and advocates of cultural enrichment in Orange County and wherever Deutsche Bank does business,” said Doug McCrea, managing director of Costa Mesa-based Deutsche Bank.

McCrea was joined by West Coast Managing Director Michael Davis, who introduced Harms, the special guest of honor.

“When I arrived in the U.S. and came through customs, along with members of the orchestra, the customs official asked me what instrument I played,” said the diminutive blond. She spoke excellent English with a pronounced German accent. “I told him I did not play an instrument, that I was in fact the federal prosecutor general, explaining that I was the Eric Holder of Germany.”

Harms laughed as she shared with the crowd that the man looked puzzled, as if to say, “Yeah, and I am like the king of England!”

The crowd included some of the most powerful business leaders in the region, including O’Melveny Myers partners Gary Singer and Loren Weber; George Wall and Mark Budensiek, both partners at Rutan & Tucker; William Hernandez, president of Requero Consulting; Jeff Joy of Greenberg Traurig; Bruce Corbett, partner of Corbett Steelman & Specter; and local arts leader John Forsyte, president of O.C.’s Pacific Symphony Orchestra. Each shared a moment with representatives of one of the world’s leading musical organizations. Also sharing a toast with the Gewandhaus contingent were distinguished Deutsche Bank executives Gerry Larr, Craig Wells, Hal Harley, John Chamberlin, Ian Leisegang, Jamie Torres, Maria Garcia, Tania Vasquez, Keaton Hamilton and Kimberly Jardin.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.