Ambassador
Simonyi was guest of honor at a gala performance of Johann Strauss'
"Die Fledermaus" staged by the Washington Opera for its
season opening night Saturday. The ambassador appeared on stage, along
with his Russian counterpart, in a scene in Act II where the
operetta's Prince Orlofsky throws a lavish ball for dignitaries - only
this time the dignitaries were real-life, including the two
ambassadors and three Supreme Court justices.
Ambassador
Simonyi's stage presence was all the more appropriate as the operetta
is full of references to Hungary and Hungarians. The performance
included a song by Hungarian composer Ferenc Lehár sung by Placido
Domingo and another Lehár piece, "Czardas," delivered in
Hungarian by soprano June Anderson.
Following
the operetta, Mr. Domingo confided to Ambassador Simonyi his dream of
staging "Bánk Bán", Hungary's premier opera.
