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October 7, 2008 Embassy Hosts La Traviata Cast Party with Plácido Domingo, Director General of Washington National Opera and the Young Artists The
Washington Nationa Opera presented Giuseppe Verdi's
La Traviata for the last
time on Monday evening, October 6, performed by the singers and
musicians of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists Program. The opera was
followed by a post-performance cast party and reception at the Embassy
of Hungary. Ambassador and Mrs. Somogyi hosted a buffet dinner in honor
of Maestro Plácido Domingo, who conducted the Washington National Opera
orchestra himself, and his wife Marta Domingo, who directed the
performance.
In his opening speech, Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi welcomed the Domingos and all opera lovers to the Embassy, and emphasized the international significance of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists program, established by Plácido Domingo, and Calvin and Jane Cafritz, featuring international opera debutants and emerging stars. Ambassador Somogyi solemnly announced that next year's Operalia, the international opera talent fostering competition, also founded and sponsored by Maestro Domingo, will be organized in Budapest and Pécs between July and August, 2009, after previous venues such as Paris, Washington, Tokyo and Quebec City.
Maestro Domingo introduced all present members of the La Traviata staff personally, and emphasized the importance of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists program for the emerging international opera singers. He talked about his love and admiration for the Hungarian musical tradition, and his passion for Hungarian operettas.
The event was covered by Hungarian public television network DUNA TV and Hungarian news television Hír TV, both of which made interviews with Maestro Domingo. Afterwards, the Domingos and all guests enjoyed delicacies of the Hungarian cuisine and samples of the best Hungarian wines, prepared and presented by Embassy Chef Lázár Kovács.
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