Plácido Domingo to Be Honored at Opera Ball 5/7

Washington National Opera's signature event, The Opera Ball, will pay tribute to Plácido Domingo, the internationally acclaimed tenor who has led Washington National Opera (WNO) for 15 years. Maestro Domingo will be feted at the lavish fundraiser on Saturday, May 7, 2011, at the Chancery of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, where business, government and arts leaders will come together for a once-in-a-lifetime event.

For 15 years, Plácido Domingo has led Washington National Opera, first at its Artistic Director (1996 to 2003) and then as General Director (2003 to present). His leadership has earned WNO international recognition, through world-class performances, innovative initiatives and tours.

The evening prior to Opera Ball, on May 6, 2011, Maestro Domingo will sing the lead role of Oreste in WNO's production of Gluck's opera Iphigénie en Tauride, running May 6 to May 28 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. The renowned tenor's performance, coupled with the illustrious Opera Ball, is expected to draw Domingo supporters from around the globe. Maestro Domingo announced in September 2010 that he will step down from his general directorship in June 2011. He plans to maintain an association with WNO.

"Plácido Domingo is a great man, a great artist and a great leader; what he has done for opera in Washington, D.C. is immeasurable," commented philanthropist Susan E. Lehrman, chairman and visionary of The Opera Ball. "The Opera Ball has always celebrated Washington National Opera, and so as I began to plan this year's Ball, it seemed fitting to dedicate the evening to Plácido, the man who has made WNO the company that it is today. From the bottom of our hearts, the WNO family wishes to thank him."

Mrs. Lehrman continued, "Plans are well under way for a most spectacular evening, none of which would be possible without the gracious patronage of our hosts, Ambassador Zhang Yesui and Mme. Chen Naiqing of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China." This year marks the first time that The Opera Ball will be hosted by the People's Republic of China. Mrs. Lehrman previously chaired Opera Balls hosted by France (2008), Germany (2009) and Russia (2010).

Responding to Mrs. Lehrman, Maestro Domingo said, "I am so touched by Susan Lehrman's kind gesture: Washington National Opera is a great company, and it has been an honor to serve as its leader. I am looking forward to a special evening, and extend my great thanks to Ambassador Zhang and Mme. Chen, as well as to Mrs. Lehrman."

Among the most anticipated events of the Capital's social season, The Opera Ball was recently named the #1 benefit event in Washington, D.C. (BizBash). As WNO's most significant annual fundraiser, all proceeds support Maestro Domingo's artistic vision and the company's outreach and education programs. Each year, the elegant black-tie event includes intimate formal dinners hosted by ambassadors throughout the city, followed by a gala at an embassy where guests delight in an evening of dancing, entertainment and surprises.

Additional details about The Opera Ball will be announced in Spring 2011.

About Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo is a world-renowned, multifaceted artist. Recognized as one of the finest and most influential singing actors in the history of opera, he is also a conductor and a major force as an opera administrator in his role as general director of two companies: Los Angeles Opera and Washington National Opera. With his newest role, Pablo Neruda in the world premiere of Daniel Catán's Il Postino, his repertoire now encompasses 134 roles, a number unmatched by any other tenor in history, and he has surpassed 3500 performances. His more than 100 recordings of complete operas, compilations of arias and duets, and crossover discs have earned him 12 Grammy Awards, including three Latin Grammys, and he has made more than 50 music videos and won two Emmy Awards. In addition to three feature opera films-Carmen, La Traviata and Otello-he voiced the role of Monte in Beverly Hills Chihuahua, played himself on The Simpsons, and his telecast of Tosca from the authentic settings in Rome was seen by more than one billion people in 117 countries. He has conducted more than 450 opera performances and symphonic concerts with the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Vienna Staatsoper, Los Angeles Opera, Chicago Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, Montréal Symphony, National Symphony, London Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Berlin Philharmonic. In 1993, he founded the international voice competition Operalia. He recently celebrated his 40th anniversaries at the Met, La Scala and Verona. Last season he added the title role of Simon Boccanegra to his repertoire, with performances at the Met, London, Milan, Madrid and Berlin. Operatic appearances for the 2010/11 season include Il Postino in Vienna and Paris, Cyrano de Bergerac in San Francisco, and Iphigénie en Tauride in Madrid, Washington and at the Met, and his conducting engagements for the season include Roméo et Juliette at the Met, Le Nozze di Figaro in Los Angeles, and Madama Butterfly and Don Pasquale in Washington. In September 2010, he performed the title role in Rigoletto from Mantua, where the opera is set, in an international live telecast seen by more than 50 million people.

Reservation Information: Reservations for Embassy dinners and the Ball start at $1,000, and Ball-only tickets start at $500. Corporate and individual sponsorships are available, and include VIP access and other benefits. For more information about supporting Opera Ball, or to receive an invitation, contact Washington National Opera's Special Events Office, specialevents@dc-opera.org or 202.295.2449.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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