| EVENT REPORT 12.17.08 2:13 PM |
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| An Arts-Filled Evening |
| The Choral Arts Society of Washington transformed the roof terrace of the Kennedy Center into a winter garden for its annual gala. |
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A snow-laden Art Nouveau painting was the decor inspiration at the Choral Arts Society of Washington’s 28th annual “Winter in Wenceslas Square” holiday concert and gala, held on Monday night at the Kennedy Center. The society’s largest fund-raiser of the year (tickets start at $600), the evening included a performance of Christmas music by the chorus in the Concert Hall followed by a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, and dance on the roof terrace for some 600. The event raised $500,000.
Organizers modified expenses for the gala with a nod to the recession. They took hors d’oeuvres off the menu, after serving them in past years during the pre-dinner cocktail and auction reception. “Because of the economy, that’s one way we cut back,” said Emily Riffle, director of special events for the society. In addition, they selected a lighter stock for the invitation, made the auction catalog one-color, chose less expensive flatware, and eliminated the gift bag. “In all past years we gave favors and always a CD.” |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | A painting by Czech artist Alphonse Mucha inspired the wintry decor.
Photo: Russell Hirshhon |
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 | The South Gallery of the Kennedy Center's roof terrace level was awash in celadon green and dusty rose.
Photo: Russell Hirshhon |
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 | The tables ranged from one banquet for 30 guests to smaller rounds for eight.
Photo: Russell Hirshhon |
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 | Floral designer Jack Lucky used mossy tendrils of amaranthus in the arrangements, giving the illusion of snow.
Photo: Russell Hirshhon |
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 | Waiters passed pink champagne in the receiving line.
Photo: Russell Hirshhon |
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 | The band Round Midnight performed throughout the dinner.
Photo: Russell Hirshhon |
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 | Technicians lit the white marble walls of the roof terrace atrium with shadows of curved and twisting branches.
Photo: Russell Hirshhon |
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Producing the event was a shared effort, bringing together floral designer Jack Lucky, the Kennedy Center’s Andre Barrette, society gala chair Kathy Jones, Choral Arts Society executive director Debra Kraft, and Riffle. As in previous years, an ambassador was asked to choose artwork to set the theme for the evening. This year’s honorary patrons, Ambassador of the Czech Republic Petr Kolar and his wife, Jarka, chose “Winter 1896,” by Alphonse Mucha, which carried a frosty motif from the invitation to tabletop.
“The first thing we do each year is get the rights to the image,” said Riffle, who worked with the embassy staff to smooth the process. Only then could Design Nut graphic designer Brent Almond use the artwork on the cover of the gala invitation, dinner program, 40-page auction catalog, and custom postage stamp.
To mirror the painting, the white marble walls in the center’s south gallery and atrium, where the dinner took place, were lit by house technicians with shadows of curved and twisting branches and a wash of sunset colors like rust and burnt orange. Further tying in the theme, celadon green and dusty rose table linens for the dinner, from Perfect Settings, coordinated with Lucky’s arrangements of pink roses and orchids, eucalyptus stems, and tendrils of amaranthus that gave the illusion of snow. The dinner menu’s main course, from Restaurant Associates, was grilled arctic char on a bed of sautéed spinach and celery root purée, with a splash of diced butternut squash for color.
At 11 p.m., many guests lingered on the dance floor; an unusual sight for a Monday night in button-downed Washington.
—Walter Nicholls
RELATED TOPICS
Choral Arts Society of Washington
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