BUZZWORTHY/ From Russia with Love

Photo Courtesy of the Washington National Opera Ballerinas danced in the snow at Friday's Opera Ball at the Embassy of the Russian Confederation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Washington National Opera's Opera Ball dazzled more than 600 guests with an opulent departure from Washington to Russia by way of the Russian Embassy Friday.
 
 It took 120 people ten days to prepare the Embassy of the Russian Confederation for one of the most gorgeous and lavish events this town has seen in years.  
 

Photo Courtesy of the Washington National Opera Sam Lehrman and Susan E. Lehrman. Mrs. Lehrman was co-chair of the 2010 Opera Ball.

Held for the first time at the Embassy of the Russian Federation, the elegant, black‐tie benefit was hosted by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Sergey Kislyak and his wife Natalia Kislyak, and chaired by Susan E. Lehrman.
 
“The Opera Ball represents the intersection of the arts, culture, philanthropy and the international community, and I am thrilled to once again be a part of this truly beautiful and meaningful annual event,” Lehrman said.  

Among the most anticipated events of the Capital’s social season, The Opera Ball is WNO’s largest annual fundraiser, with all proceeds supporting General Director Plácido Domingo’s artistic vision and the company’s outreach and education programs.  This year's ball raised $1.5 million for Washington National Opera and WNO education/community programs.
 
Thanks to the generosity of its hosts, all of the proceeds went to support WNO programs.  Lehrman (whose husband's family co-founded the Giant Food chain) spent 10 months planning the party and declined to disclose how much she spent to single-handedly underwrite the event - reportedly in excess of $500,000.
 
“This year’s Opera Ball serves as a broad reflection of the positive direction of the U.S.‐Russia relationship,” continued Lehrman. “In envisioning the Ball, I wanted to create an exquisite cultural backdrop for the many Russian and U.S. artists, government officials and business leaders who will come together for this wonderful event to support Washington National Opera.”
 
Before the grandeur of The Ball the evening began with formal dinners hosted by embassies throughout the city. These private diplomatic dinners are a longstanding and beloved Opera Ball tradition, and serve as an elegant and unique precursor to the Ball itself. For this year’s Ball, 22 embassies hosted pre‐Ball dinners, including: Singapore, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Afghanistan, Denmark, Germany, Colombia, Portugal, Mexico, France, Great Britain, Argentina, Japan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Spain, The Netherlands, Egypt, Belgium, Peru, Hungary and Brazil.
 
Michelle Pendoley, the talented and poised WNO media relations manager, gave reporters a private tour of the Embassy before guests arrived, "What tonight is for the WNO is an extension of the art of stage to life in this one multi faceted event."
 

Photo Courtesy of the Washington National Opera Veronica Sarukhan, The Honorable Janet Napolitano and Ambassador Sarukhan at The Opera Ball

Following the Embassy dinners, guests continued on to the Embassy of the Russian Federation, where they experienced a one‐of‐a‐kind journey through Russia’s rich history and culture. One of the largest and most beautiful embassies in the city, the complex was built by acclaimed Soviet architect Michael Posokhin, and each room honors a distinct region or element of Russia’s history.
 
The Opera Ball’s design seamlessly celebrated this history and added entertaining, whimsical details that delighted guests which included The Supreme Court's Chief Justice John and Mrs. Roberts, Secretary of Homeland Security the Honorable Janet Napolitano, the Ambassador of Japan Ichiro Fujiksaki and Yoniko Fujisaki, the Ambassador to Mexico Arturo Sarukhan, the Ambassador to Lebanon Capricia Marshall, with Dr. Robert Marshall, Ambassador of Great Britain Nigel Sheinwald, with Lady Julia Sheinwald, Ambassador of France Pierre Vimont, Antoine Chedid and wife Nicole Saba, philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, Veronica Sarukhan, Aimee and Robert Lehrman, Grace Bender, Michael and Susan Pillsbury, The Honorable Jack Evans and Michele Siever, Heather Podesta, Phillip and Nina Pillsbury, , Bob and Olga Ryan, The Honorable and Mrs. Bruce Reed, the Lehrman Family, including Robert, Aimee, Sam; and WNO Chairman Jane Lipton Cafritz.  

Upon arriving, guests were greeted by costumed characters from Russian operas. Images of some of Russia’s iconic architecture, including the St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Hermitage and the Winter Palace, were projected on to the façade of the embassy. Entering the embassy, guests were dazzled by a spectacular countryside winter theme. The entryway was lined with white birch trees and accented by music from some of Russia’s most distinguished opera composers, such as Tchaikovsky and Glinka.
 
The entry led towards the courtyard, with décor and entertainment celebrating the Russian city of Sochi, host of the winter Olympics in 2014. A symbol of Sochi 2014, brightly lit zorbs (transparent globes, approximately nine feet in diameter and manned by entertainers) moved through the courtyard in a mesmerizing visual display.

Additional courtyard features included gently falling snow and costumed snow maidens. The embassy’s Golden Hall was transformed into St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace, and served as the backdrop for entertainment by New York’s famed bandleader Peter Duchin and his Orchestra.
 
The evening began with a ballroom dance program with dancers in vintage costumes performing to the magical music of Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin. The mood then turned upbeat with Borodin’s “Strangers in Paradise” other Russian‐themed music designed to get guests to the dance floor. The ballroom also featured Russian desserts and gorgeous Fabergé egg cakes by famed New York cake designer Sylvia Weinstock.
 

Photo Courtesy of the Washington National Opera Councilman Jack Evans, Michele Siever and Jane Cafritz.

"Unbelievable," was Janet Napolitano's adjective of choice overheard being said from the opera-loving Secretary of Homeland Security.

Elegantly appointed rooms, each with various Russian themes and accompanying delicacies, surrounded the main ballroom. The embassy’s Yellow Hall became a Russian Tea Room, featuring a large display of Russian samovars. Russian pianist Alexander Izbitser serenaded guests sitting at café tables where they enjoyed traditional tea room table service, ordering from a menu that included Russian desserts such as vatrushki, cheese blinchiki with cherry sauce, and marozhenoye.
 
The Petrovskiy Hall, with its teal walls symbolizing the ocean and dedicated to the founder of the Russian Navy Tsar Peter I, became an ice palace for the evening. Seven eight‐foot tall ice sculptures and seafood displays, featuring the bounty of Russian savory seafoods, complement the room. The sculptures represented images of significance in Russian culture, including a bear, the double eagle, Sochi 2014, a firebird, and angel, Peter the Great and the Kremlin.
 
A recreation of Tolstoy’s Library celebrated the great Russian literary figure, Leo Tolstoy. The Library featured a champagne and cordial bar, as well as cake replicas of the Russian writer’s leather‐bound books. Celebrating Russia’s distinguished operatic traditions, the evening included three 15‐minute performances by “rising star” opera singers from Russia’s esteemed Bolshoi Opera.
 
Performances took place in the embassy’s theater throughout the evening.
 
It was not at all a night for discussing controversial political matters either. When Examiner reporter Tara Palmeri asked Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts what he thought about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, he replied politely, "I'm not commenting on that tonight."
 
The evening was magical and no detail seemed overlooked by famed DC event planner Sandi Hoffman.  The lavish affair was truly one of the most spectacular events that Washingtonians have seen in years - a high of the Spring Social Scene for sure - in our opinion perhaps one of the highlights of the past decade.  
 
"It's one of the most extraordinary parties I've ever seen in Washington -- or anywhere," said Lucky Roosevelt, a D.C. socialite and former U.S. Chief of Protocol.
 

Photo Courtesy of the Washington National Opera Edible Faberge-styled egg cake desserts created by Sylvia Weinstock.

Patrons interested in supporting the Washington National Opera and learning about future events including the Opera Ball and Opening Night Gala can visit http://www.dc-opera.org/supportus . Opera fans are certainly in for a treat as the Opera presents Hamlet May 27 to June 4.  The dashing Liam Bonner is one of the two men starring in the role as Hamlet at The Kennedy Center performance. 

Photo Courtesy of the Washington National Opera An Iolanta super greets guests at Friday's Opera Ball.

Photo Courtesy of the Washington National Opera An image of St. Basil's Cathedral projected against the Russian Embassy on Wisconsin Avenue.

Photo Courtesy of the Washington National Opera The stunning ice room at Friday's Opera Ball.