Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.life From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Opera brings more intrigue to spotlight Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 15:13:22 EST Message-ID: \SE E;LIFE;ABOUT TOWN \HD Opera brings more intrigue to spotlight \BY Siobhan McDonough \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Patrons attending the Washington Opera's season premiere on the first Saturday after the election found themselves once again confronted with a theme involving intrigue, treachery and betrayal. What else but "Otello" to remind the seasoned crowd of elected officials, diplomats and politically attuned arts supporters that politics inevitably seeps into every aspect of Washington life? But Israeli Ambassador Zalman Shoval brushed off questions about controversy surrounding the resignation of David Steiner as president of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) earlier in the week. (Mr. Steiner stepped down from his post after it was revealed he had overstated his influence with Secretary of State James Baker and top advisers to President-elect Bill Clinton to raise funds for AIPAC-approved candidates.) "It has no reflection on U.S.-Israeli relations," Mr. Shoval insisted. "AIPAC is an American organization, so it is an internal American affair." Despite the flap, the Israeli envoy seemed determinedly optimistic about future dealings between the two countries in the new administration. "There have been important achievements lately. We think the trend will continue with Mr. Clinton." he said. Generally speaking, it was a musical and social evening for most of the 220 guests, although several discussions focused on how the new president will relate to the arts. "He's musical and he plays the sax. I just hope opera appeals to his musical taste as well," Washington Opera founder and General Director Martin Feinstein, said, adding mock-conspiratorially that he had "friends finding out." Even though it is common knowledge that the president-elect likes Fleetwood Mac and blows a mean horn, many of the opera fans voiced concerns about the fate of the National Endowment for the Arts and other cultural programs. They weren't yet sure if Mr. Clinton would be playing pleasing notes for the art world as well. "Hopefully, the arts won't be a political nuisance to Clinton as they were to Bush," Mr. Feinstein said during intermission. "We're looking forward to an atmosphere of support. But with the present economic situation, I doubt there will be a big change." Other major arts aficionados weren't so down on the outgoing administration's record. Daniel Terra, cultural ambassador at large during the Reagan years, noted that corporate support for the arts was at its peak in the 1980s. "If there's a single thing that everyone can agree on, it's that they're glad the elections are over," said Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran, happy he didn't have to run this year. Among those enjoying a post-performance dinner-dance in the Roof Terrace Atrium were event chairwoman Monica Greenberg, cosmetics queen Georgette Klinger, South Dakota Sen. Larry Pressler and wife Harriet, Philip and Nina Pillsbury (just back from the Big One in Little Rock), Moroccan Ambassador Mohamed Belkhayat, Netherlands Ambassador Hans Meesman, Judith Terra, Channel 4's Barbara Harrison, Charles and Evelyn DiBona and former chief SALT negotiator Paul Nitze. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM