The Washington Opera paid tribute last week to Placido Domingo, its new artistic director, at a Domingo gala.
But the tenor wound up sharing the spotlight at the Kennedy Center Opera House with two guests whose presidential ruminations are well in tune with Washington's preoccupation with politics over music.They were Gen. Colin Powell, who had kept people guessing about his presidential ambitions for months before announcing in November that he would not run, and Ross Perot, who always likes to keep people guessing.
Perot went over to Powell's table at the dinner following the concert, and the two chatted animatedly. Asked afterward if they had discussed the presidential campaign, Perot said: "It had nothing to do with politics. We really were talking about military affairs."
Powell interjected, "It's just two old friends talking."
Both men were asked if they might be measuring the opera house's presidential box. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Perot answered vehmently. Powell was more restrained. "No I was enjoying the night," he said.
The performers included the bass Samuel Ramey, the baritone Chen-Ye Yuan, the duo pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque and Domingo.
Domingo assumes the artistic directorship of the opera on July 1 and will be responsible for casting and the selection of repertory. He told the audience that the performances were "the hors d'oeuvres for what's to come in Washington."