PARTY LINES : SOIREES WRAP UP THE YEAR IN STYLE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

Big bashes are swell, but salon soirees are becoming chic again on the society scene.

The reason? They're more informal (tuxedos aren't usually required), less expensive than big balls, a bit nostalgic (like cocktail parties) and best of all, they provide an intimate setting to meet the distinguished guests.

Such was the case at ``Some Enchanting Evening,'' a fund-raiser for the Encino-based Ark Trust Inc. held at the Skirbll Cultural Center in Los Angeles. It was an evening of music and song, with awesome violin solos by Glenn Dicterow, concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, who made his professional debut with the L.A. Philharmonic at the age of 11; pianist Gerrald Robbins, and Broadway stars Dale Kristien (she was the fabulous soprano who played Christine in ``Phantom of the Opera'') and Bill Hutton, the Tony Award-winning star of ``Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.''

Kristien, who looked festive in a bright red velvet gown with huge red chandelier-style earrings, apologized in advance for any vocal difficulties and added, ``I'm as sick as a dog.'' Hutton seized the moment and quipped, ``But we're here in support of those dogs,'' referring to the organization's animal-rights roots.

The program was hosted by Robert Guillaume, who played the Phantom opposite Kristien at the Music Center a few years ago. It was clearly a sentimental occasion for him. The Emmy Award-winning actor, who currently stars in TV's ``Sports Night,'' introduced Kristien, saying, ``I have no exciting tales to tell about her. Although I was a bull in the china closet . . . I never experienced any impatience with her when I joined 'Phantom.' ''

During the dessert reception, the buzz was all about New Year's Eve plans. Guillaume said, ``I'm going to stay out of the fray. I'll be glad when it's come and gone but I'll watch the ball go down in Times Square before going to sleep.''

Kristien and Hutton said they weren't going out to celebrate, as did Ark Trust president Gretchen Wyler, and actress Linda Blair. However, Tippi Hedren, the Valley's biggest animal-rights activist, who's best-known for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's ``The Birds,'' announced, ``I'm thinking of going to Australia.'' When her friends pressed her for details, she just smiled.

The Ark event attracted about 300 animal lovers, including Dicterow's daughter Laura, who's the Webmaster for the Ark Trust; and his nieces Andrea and Erica, who drove in from West Hills.

The bottom line for the evening was $20,000.

The Center Theatre Group Affiliates were having their own salon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The guests of honor were Henry Winkler and Veanne Cox, who are currently appearing in in Neil Simon's ``The Dinner Party'' at the Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center. The 80 guests also had a chance to see the artistic work of painter John Rose, sculptors Tanya Regir and Jilda Schwartz, photographer Jackie Nach and local purse designer Julie Feldman.

Charles Dillingham, managing director of the Center Theatre Group Affiliates, played master of ceremonies and introduced everybody, including Gordon Davidson. The artistic director of the Center Theatre Group, Davidson was presented with a sculpture by CTGA member Diane Kessler.

Event chairman Mary Cutler arranged for the Beverly Hills High School Madrigal Singers to entertain the group, which included Valley members June Sattler, Jean Donald, Phyllis Massing, Fran Muir and Linda Small.

A third salon, called the Winter Salon, was staged at Nic's Martini Bar and Restaurant in Beverly Hills. The event was hosted by Aria!, the young professionals' support group for the Los Angeles Opera, and it raised $10,000 for future opera performances.

More than 200 opera fans attended the salon, where they were entertained by the music of LeRoy Ball and the Do Got Band. In addition, resident opera artists Noelle Richardson, Bruce Sledge and Daniel Faltus performed several holiday selections.

The Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association did the neighborly thing and invited the Studio City Residents Association to welcome the new year with them at their Millennium Ball. The affair was held at the Radisson Hotel in Sherman Oaks, where 175 guests dined on prime rib and grilled salmon and danced to the music of the Jimmy McConnell Band.

According to event chairman Jules Feir of Sherman Oaks, the party was such a major success they plan on doing more events together. He added that numerous guests dressed in the party's black-and-white theme and just partied instead of talking politics.

It must have been difficult, since there were several politicians in attendance, including City Attorney James Hahn; Speaker of the Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa; senior adviser to the mayor of Los Angeles, Steve Soboroff; Sen. Richard Alarcon and Councilman Michael Feuer, who presented proclamations to Studio City honorary mayor Arthur Anderson and Sherman Oaks honorary mayor LeVar Burton. In her husband's absence, LeVar's wife, Stephanie accepted.

At another gala, the Anti-Defamation League honored Larry King with its Harvey Torch of Liberty Award for his achievements as a humanitarian and for his commitment to philanthropic endeavors.

A major fund-raiser for the Pacific Southwest region of ADL, the annual dinner dance was attended by 1,250 guests, including actor Billy Baldwin, MCA Records president Jay Boberg, ``ER'' star Julianna Marguilies and ``The Practice'' star LisaGay Hamilton. The program included entertainment by Grammy-nominated musician Michael Feinsteino and a keynote address by ADL's national director Abraham Foxman, and raised $1.2 million to combat prejudice, bigotry, anti-Semitism and discrimination, said chairman Allen M. Lawrence.

For the sixth year in a row, Merv Griffin turned his Beverly Hilton Hotel into Christmas Tree Lane. Inside the ballroom were 750 people oohing and aahing over 40 huge Christmas trees decorated by celebs (or their design teams) that sparkled with glittery ornaments.

Although the Osmond Brothers' tree fetched $650 at the silent auction, it was Christopher Radko's tree loaded with his own brand of handblown glass ornaments that raised the most money $3,500 for the Young Musicians Foundation.

After checking out the trees, guests were treated to holiday songs by party co-hosts Jimmy, Merrill, Jay and Wayne Osmond, and the Children of the World Choir, with classical selections provided by 12-year-old cellist Eugena Chang.

The event, which attracted a number of stars, including Robert and Audrey Loggia, and Jayne Meadows and Steve Allen, raised $18,000 for music scholarships for children in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has a great reputation in the medical field, and also on the cummerbund circuit. The hospital's auxiliaries throw swell parties, and the latest example was the Save A Heart Foundation's annual Heart Saver Award gala held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The event honored community activist Anita Lorber and world-class cardiologist Clarence Agress and raised $250,000 for community education seminars and medical research fellowships.

Event co-chairmen were Dr. Daniel Berman, Dr. John Friedman, Dr. John Harold and Dr. Steven Rubins.

One of the last parties of the year was for fashionistas and jocks, who got together at the Sports Club/LA in West L.A. to raise $2,500 for actor Sharon Stone's charity, Planet Hope. Although she didn't show up, her sister and charity co-founder Kelly Stone was there, along with 150 guests.

The event was hosted by Mario Lopez of ``Pacific Blue'' and MTV's Julie Brown, and featured a fashion parade by local retailers including Moschino, Bebe, Privilege, Del Rosario and Bloomingdale's.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1) Andrea Dicterow of West Hills, left, with friend Jim St. Amour of Los Feliz and her sister Erica at the Ark Trust party at the Skirball Cultural Center.

(2) Animal rights activists Linda Blair, left, and Tippi Hedren, with Ark Trust president Gretchen Wyler at ``Some Enchanting Evening.''

(3) Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association president Richard Close, left, with Stephanie Burton and Sen. Richard Alarcon at the Millennium Ball.

Barbara De Witt