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His Excellency the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Yesui and Madame Chen Naiqing, Susan E. Lehrman, Plácido Domingo and his wife, Marta Ornelas Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-02.jpg)
Guests on the main floor of the chancery were entertained by three separate laser-light shows. Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-03.jpg)
Michael and Meryl Chertoff and friends Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-04.jpg)
Tryfan Evans and Holly Morrow Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-05.jpg)
Douglas G. Burton, Kaeko Burton, Lucy Lu and Cyrus Ariaban Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-06.jpg)
Alexandra Avril, Katrin Florik-Avril, Susanna Veith and Ty Schashtebeck Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-07.jpg)
Olga Dombroki and Pavel Spitsyn Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-08.jpg)
Pacido Domingo being interviewed by the Chinese media Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
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The downstairs rooms featured an ancient China theme, including the main room shown here. Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-10.jpg)
Christie Pinto and Erin Sullivan Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-11.jpg)
Event designer Sandi Hoffman and her team had only five days to decorate the chancery. Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-12.jpg)
Adriana Jauregui, Paulina Valencia, Carolina Fermandoies and Arturo Fermandoies Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
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The downstairs dancefloor. Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
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An artist makes sculptures out of fruit. Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
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One of the event’s most popular culinary options was glazed fruit on a stick. Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperaBall-17.jpg)
David Mozur, Brittney Dubay, Darryl Demello and Christina Tawtel Photograph by Kyle Gustafson
![Opera Ball 2011](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_OperBallopener-01.jpg)
Opera Ball 2011 Photograph by Kyle Gustafson