The staging of the Washington National Opera’s version of La Bohème on Saturday at the Kennedy Center might have been edgier than operas generally tend to be—with fireworks, disco balls, and leather bustiers—but the decor at the opening-night gala veered toward the traditional. Immediately after La Bohème’s premier two-hour performance (dubbed by The Washington Times as "the most audacious season kickoff in company history"), more than 350 opera lovers decamped to the south gallery of the Kennedy Center’s Roof Terrace, which was awash in an Old World look, with draperies, tablecloths, flowers, and settings in regal shades of gold and purple.
“We wanted this gala to be very traditional, since the opera is very contemporary in production,” said WNO special events coordinator Elizabeth Early, who began planning the event (which is known among locals to kick off the fall gala season) in March with director of special events Patti Humphrey. The planners’ blend of the contemporary and the traditional is an example of the opera community’s effort to cultivate new audiences without alienating older fans.Though the WNO has staged galas at other venues in the past, according to Early, nothing beats the convenience of staging an event at the Kennedy Center, since it's just a short elevator ride away from the theater. Plus, of all of the WNO’s black-tie galas, this event was the most tied to the art form, as it followed a performance and guests could interact with the artists. “For the season opening night, this is the most appropriate place for us to be,” Early said. “Our performing home is here, and we want to be here as much as possible.”
The evening's biggest challenge? Seating guests not once but twice, for the performance and the dinner. "It is always a challenge to coordinate this event due to the twofold nature of the evening," Early said. "It is cumbersome, but it's a challenge we enjoy, since this is [our] only annual fund-raising event that includes an Opera performance."
Gala guests, including Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and former mayor Anthony Williams, heard remarks from WNO general director Placido Domingo while noshing on a menu of roast beef and baby mache salad and thyme roast lamb loin. Opera fans had the chance to meet the cast and crew members of La Bohème, and even Early couldn’t help pointing out that “they’re the youngest, most attractive cast. It’s outrageous.” U.S. ambassador to Barbados Mary Ourisman agreed, telling The Post's Reliable Source that Bohème lead Vittorio Grigolo’s “bod matched his voice.”
“We wanted this gala to be very traditional, since the opera is very contemporary in production,” said WNO special events coordinator Elizabeth Early, who began planning the event (which is known among locals to kick off the fall gala season) in March with director of special events Patti Humphrey. The planners’ blend of the contemporary and the traditional is an example of the opera community’s effort to cultivate new audiences without alienating older fans.Though the WNO has staged galas at other venues in the past, according to Early, nothing beats the convenience of staging an event at the Kennedy Center, since it's just a short elevator ride away from the theater. Plus, of all of the WNO’s black-tie galas, this event was the most tied to the art form, as it followed a performance and guests could interact with the artists. “For the season opening night, this is the most appropriate place for us to be,” Early said. “Our performing home is here, and we want to be here as much as possible.”
The evening's biggest challenge? Seating guests not once but twice, for the performance and the dinner. "It is always a challenge to coordinate this event due to the twofold nature of the evening," Early said. "It is cumbersome, but it's a challenge we enjoy, since this is [our] only annual fund-raising event that includes an Opera performance."
Gala guests, including Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and former mayor Anthony Williams, heard remarks from WNO general director Placido Domingo while noshing on a menu of roast beef and baby mache salad and thyme roast lamb loin. Opera fans had the chance to meet the cast and crew members of La Bohème, and even Early couldn’t help pointing out that “they’re the youngest, most attractive cast. It’s outrageous.” U.S. ambassador to Barbados Mary Ourisman agreed, telling The Post's Reliable Source that Bohème lead Vittorio Grigolo’s “bod matched his voice.”
The Washington National Opera gala was awash in maroon and purple hues.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
The gala following the Washington National Opera's La Bohème performance was awash in maroon and purple hues.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
A jazz trio played during cocktails and dinner, and then guests danced to music from Glenn Pearson's 10-piece orchestra.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
Jack Lucky provided the purple and red floral arrangements, which consisted of antique purple hydrangea, roses, delphinium, burgundy orchids, freesia, and alliums.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
The Kennedy Center's sweeping lilac curtains set the tone for the regal-hued color scheme.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
Restaurant Associates cooked up a menu of roast beef and baby mache salad and thyme roast lamb loin, served on gold-hued plates from Perfect Settings.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
Every three minutes, the lights by Light-Olutions faded from amber to purple, echoing the gala's color scheme.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
Event planners tied the gala's decor to La Bohème by using the damask pattern on the wallpaper in Act 2 as a motif on the tablecloths, programs, invitations, and light projections.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
