Opera Ball!

We headed to the headquarters of the Organization of American States Saturday evening to celebrate the 60th Diamond Anniversary of the Opera Ball!

The Washington National Opera's annual ball featured a number of pre-ball dinners hosted by various ambassadors at their private residences and embassies throughout DC. We snapped Florida Grand Opera's Eliza Bonet with WNO Chairman Jacqueline Badger Mars, opera singer J'nai Bridges and opera patron Betsy Scott Kleeblatt. 

This year's ball concluded at the headquarters of the Organization of American States, where guests experienced a memorable evening of dessert, music and dancing. Here, British Ambassador Kim Darroch and his wife, Vanessa Darroch, join Suzanne Pillsbury and her husband, policy adviser Michael Pillsbury. 

At the open bar, guests enjoyed Pisco Sours and other Latin-influenced cocktails. We snapped Kennedy Center prez Deborah Rutter and chairman David Rubenstein. 

Delicious Latin hors d'oeuvres were passed throughout the night; we particularly loved the pork belly taquitos and avocado toast! Here, Argentine Ambassador Martin Lousteau joins his wife, Carla Peterson, with stylist Beatrice Sevilla and WNO supporter Peter Baca. 

The Grand Dessert Reception also featured a delicious and beautiful chocolate bar made up of a dozen Latin-inspired cocoa treats. Here, Institute for Education's coach Kathy Kemper joins White House chief data scientist DJ Patil and his wife, Institute for Education's Devika Patil. 

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed remarkable opera and Latin music in the expansive ballroom. Here, WNO patron Jamie Craft joins Lucky Roosevelt in the ballroom. 

Global health expert Dr. Susan Blumenthal joins the Advisory Board's Eric Larsen and his wife, Susi Larsen, with the German Ambassador's wife, Huberta Wittig. 

Core Logic's Shonda Paul joins Merrill Lynch VP Reza Khadiri, Invesco Real Estate president Abla Khoursheed and developer Dennis Lee enjoying the dance floor.  

Plus Plus' Becca Thorsen joins Washington Life's John Arundel, GW Med School's Meaghan Smith and Dentons partner David Tafuri. 

WNO's Colin Brush joins Capital One's Coetzee Pretorius and Canon's Allyson McDougal enjoying the reception. 

Wrapping up the evening, guests enjoyed the musical stylings of Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe "Margot," otherwise known as The Dolls. 

Travis Holler contributed to this issue.