Page 2 : Patrons on Mission at Benefit in San Juan

The piano duo Belamore may have been the featured act Sunday night, but the real attraction was the San Juan Capistrano Mission.

The Old Stone Church was the setting for a benefit for the Mission Preservation Society and its ongoing restoration project.

The $7-million project received $1 million from a state grant Monday and $600,000 has been donated by supporters.

On Sunday, guests paid $50 for an evening under the stars, a prime rib dinner and a musical program ranging from classical to pop.

Many thought Belamore’s Las Vegas-type performance, on white digitalized pianos and accompanied by singers and dancers, was “interesting,” but saved their praise for the mission, looking grand under atmospheric lighting.

“Isn’t this something?” said Richard Baldwin, who came with his wife, Madeline, from Mission Viejo. “For some reason, I always find [the mission] to be so relaxing. . . maybe it’s because it’s just so ancient.”

Madeline Baldwin said she enjoyed wandering around the fringe of the church’s huge courtyard.

“We haven’t been here for awhile,” she explained, “and I forgot things about it, like the warm [earthy] colors [of the buildings]. It’s always nice to come back [even] without the swallows.”

The mission’s benefit music series continues Aug. 14 with Kinda Dixie, which plays jazz and big band music, and Swingfest, another big band group, on Aug. 28.

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Call (949) 248-2048 for more information about the mission, its preservation society or the series.