An Opera Opening Night That Doubled as a Birthday Party for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Photos)

Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a major fan of the Washington National Opera, and the WNO is a major fan of hers.
This mutual appreciation society convened on Saturday night at the Kennedy Center
for the opening night of Bellini’s
Norma, which was followed by a black-tie buffet supper to celebrate Ginsburg’s 80th birthday.
The company presented her with an ecru-colored silk shawl, handmade by the opera’s
costume artisans, which had significance because similar shawls are used throughout
the production.

The opera’s executive director,
Michael Mael, presented the shawl to Ginsburg at her table, along with a small chocolate cupcake
with one candle. As the justice walked to the podium to make brief remarks, she wrapped
herself in the shawl, clearly delighted with the gift. She told the guests one of
her joys has been to see the Washington National Opera become “greater” each year.
“Its best years are still ahead,” she said. When Ginsburg returned to her seat the
WNO had another surprise gift for her: a solo serenade by tenor
Corey Evan Rotz, who sang the aria “You Are My Heart’s Delight” from a 1920s operetta.

After the birthday hoopla there was still more to come, because it was time to give
another round of applause to the cast, crew, and benefactors who made
Norma possible. Artistic director
Francesca Zambello, standing on the crimson carpet at a Plexiglas podium just outside the door to the
president’s box, called them one by one to join her onstage, beginning with the production
crew and ending with, of course, the star,
Angela Meade. In true diva fashion, Meade appeared from the wings of the box tier terrace and
walked across the room, smiling broadly as she accepted one more standing ovation.
They were joined by
Clarice Smith, a longtime WNO patron who provided the major funding for the production.

Though not officially critics, the 125 invited guests at the supper were uniformly
ecstatic about the production and the cast, predicting big things for Meade and swooning
over her costars,
Dolora Zajick, who plays Agaldisa and has a few memorable duets with Meade;
Rafael Davila, who plays Pollione;
Mauricio Miranda, who is Flavio;
Dmitry Belosselskiy (Oroveso); and
Julia Mintzer (Clotilde). “It’s the best of all the operas I’ve seen here,” said
Dede Feinberg, whose husband,
Kenneth, is a member of the board of trustees. At the same table,
James Spellman said, “It’s amazing to see so many young American opera singers this gifted.”
Dwight Owsley, an opera singer visiting from New York, was just as enthusiastic. He talked about
the strenuous nature of the roles played by Meade and Zajick. We wanted to know when
an opera singer eats to have the energy for three hours of stage work. “Now, after
the show,” he said, “but never before, and never on the day of a performance.”

It’s good, then, that there were two buffet tables, with salad, meats, fish, vegetables,
pasta, and a full bar, and that the singers have two days off. They perform
Norma again on Tuesday evening and on several other dates through the month of March.