At the Washington National Opera Ball, musical diplomacy finds its way to Washington, DC year after year.
On June 8th, DC area opera lovers came together again for the Washington National Opera’s annual Opera Ball. Hosted at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence, the Ball celebrated the artistic success of the WNO’s 2013-2014 season and showcased Japan’s historical and artistic heritage.
Each year the WNO Ball draws many distinguished guests to enjoy musical performances and support the arts, namely DC’s diplomatic community. Preceded by intimate dinners hosted by ambassadors at their embassies, this year’s Opera Ball featured a grand dessert buffet and a special tempura and sushi lounge prepared by the Embassy of Japan’s chef. Perhaps more spectacular was the custom-made chandelier of 1000 origami paper cranes, based on the ancient Japanese legend that associates these cranes with eternal good luck.
A highlight of this year’s Opera Ball was a series of four musical performances. Soprano Rina Haruki and pianist Azusa Ueno performed selections including “Deh vieni, non tardar,” from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, “Apple Song” by Tadashi Manjome, and more. The Evermay Chamber Group, an ensemble of solo caliber artists from five continents, performed Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48. The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists performed popular selections from operatic and musical theater, and baritone Takaoki Onishi and pianist Miki Harzui performed operatic favorites that blew the audience away.
Beyond the extraordinary musical performances and beautiful aesthetics, the WNO Ball is also the largest fundraising event for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This event “is really designed to make sure the diplomatic community, friends of the Opera, and friends of the Kennedy Center have a chance to gather together—towards the end of the [opera] season—to help us raise a little bit of money,” said David Rubenstein, Chairman of the Kennedy Center. That night, guests raised $1 million for the WNO, all of which will go toward programming and educational outreach.
“Opera is an art form that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries and communicates humanity’s deepest feelings and emotions,” explained Rubenstein.
A truly international art form, opera provides a space for political elites to form relationships outside of politics.
Chandelier of 1000 origami paper cranes, based on the ancient Japanese legend that associates these cranes with eternal good luck.
Entrance to the Ball with projections from Japanese artist Jun Kaneko.
Embassy chefs prepare sushi and tempura for Opera Ball guests.
Koi pond at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence.
Opera Ball Chairs Phebe Novakovic (left) and Dr. Sachiko Kuno (center) greet WNO president Jim Feldman (right).
Calvin and Jane Cafritz (left), Kennedy Center Chairman David M Rubenstein (second from right), and Adrienne Arsht (right) pose for a picture.
A performance by the Evermay Chamber Group.
Photos by Yassine El Mansouri.
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Musical Diplomacy at the 2014 Washington National Opera Ball
July 21, 2014
At the Washington National Opera Ball, musical diplomacy finds its way to Washington, DC year after year.
On June 8th, DC area opera lovers came together again for the Washington National Opera’s annual Opera Ball. Hosted at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence, the Ball celebrated the artistic success of the WNO’s 2013-2014 season and showcased Japan’s historical and artistic heritage.
Each year the WNO Ball draws many distinguished guests to enjoy musical performances and support the arts, namely DC’s diplomatic community. Preceded by intimate dinners hosted by ambassadors at their embassies, this year’s Opera Ball featured a grand dessert buffet and a special tempura and sushi lounge prepared by the Embassy of Japan’s chef. Perhaps more spectacular was the custom-made chandelier of 1000 origami paper cranes, based on the ancient Japanese legend that associates these cranes with eternal good luck.
A highlight of this year’s Opera Ball was a series of four musical performances. Soprano Rina Haruki and pianist Azusa Ueno performed selections including “Deh vieni, non tardar,” from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, “Apple Song” by Tadashi Manjome, and more. The Evermay Chamber Group, an ensemble of solo caliber artists from five continents, performed Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48. The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists performed popular selections from operatic and musical theater, and baritone Takaoki Onishi and pianist Miki Harzui performed operatic favorites that blew the audience away.
Beyond the extraordinary musical performances and beautiful aesthetics, the WNO Ball is also the largest fundraising event for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This event “is really designed to make sure the diplomatic community, friends of the Opera, and friends of the Kennedy Center have a chance to gather together—towards the end of the [opera] season—to help us raise a little bit of money,” said David Rubenstein, Chairman of the Kennedy Center. That night, guests raised $1 million for the WNO, all of which will go toward programming and educational outreach.
“Opera is an art form that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries and communicates humanity’s deepest feelings and emotions,” explained Rubenstein.
A truly international art form, opera provides a space for political elites to form relationships outside of politics.
Chandelier of 1000 origami paper cranes, based on the ancient Japanese legend that associates these cranes with eternal good luck.
Entrance to the Ball with projections from Japanese artist Jun Kaneko.
Embassy chefs prepare sushi and tempura for Opera Ball guests.
Koi pond at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence.
Opera Ball Chairs Phebe Novakovic (left) and Dr. Sachiko Kuno (center) greet WNO president Jim Feldman (right).
Calvin and Jane Cafritz (left), Kennedy Center Chairman David M Rubenstein (second from right), and Adrienne Arsht (right) pose for a picture.
A performance by the Evermay Chamber Group.
Photos by Yassine El Mansouri.
