Opera Gala!

We headed to the Kennedy Center Opera House for the Washington National Opera's Opera Gala. 

We snapped Kennedy Center trustee Adrianne Arsht with the evening's honoree, WNO's outgoing chairwoman of the board and Mars Inc.'s Jacqueline Badger Mars. The signature event was reimagined this year, focusing on the gala performance at the Kennedy Center instead of the dinners and reception format in previous years. 

The night began with cocktails and appetizers on the Kennedy Center river terrace, with guests enjoying the perfect summer evening weather and a string quartet performance. We loved the tuna tartare and the special WNO M&Ms. Here, Susi Larsen joins political consultant Lindsay Angerholzer, WNO trustee Eric Larsen and CSPC CEO Max Angerholzer. 

Following the cocktail reception, guests headed inside for a star-studded concert in the Opera House. Here, Kennedy Center Chairman and Carlyle co-CEO David Rubenstein joins Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter and her husband, Peter Ellefson. 

It was announced that this year's gala raised over $2.3M to benefit the WNO and its programs. Here, Georgetown Senior Fellow Dr. Claude Rakisits with Australian Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador Caroline Millar and outgoing WNO Executive Director Michael Mael.

After the performance, guests headed to the opera’s traditional black-tie embassy dinners, hosted by various ambassadors at their embassies and residences across Washington. Here, Tamara Bigalow joins interior designer Lisa Vandenburgh and Covington & Burling's Timm Whitney. 

Former DC Council Member Carol Schwartz with WNO patron and interior designer Carol Lascaris. 

Here, WNO patrons Phil and Jania Peter with Wolf Trap's Sarah Shapiro Goodman.

General Dynamics' Tom Madson with Gulfstream Aerospace's Leda Chong and 484 Labs founder Kevin Dewalt.