The non-EU open embassies were better

The European Union Delegation building at K and 22nd was the only "open embassy" I found Saturday which had no waiting, perhaps because it was far (relatively speaking) from the embassies and because it's not an embassy!/By Patricia Leslie

Better for shorter wait times, more food and drink, more tours, more interiors, almost three times as many open (59 v. 24) which helped spread out the crowds and afforded opportunities to see more embassies!

Comparing last week's "open embassies" with this week's and there was no disputing the winner.  

No close horse race.  Not even a horse in sight May 13 but Saudi Arabia had one May 6. (Huh?  See last week's link above.) 

No overweight ambassadors allowed at the ambassadors' table at the EU Delegation building since it's a bit of a squeeze to get in and sit down/By Patricia Leslie

Although not a member (yet), Ukraine had a table and representatives at the EU Delegation building/By Patricia Leslie

Between the couple is a signature on the Ukrainian flag by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy which says "Ukraine is Brave!" The fellow pictured above did not appear that glum when chatting, only when photographed. They gave out lapel pins which said "Ukraine NOW." Yes!/By Patricia Leslie

Only at the European Union Center on K Street was there no waiting on Saturday to enter and check out the digs for a few moments, welcome the Ukrainian delegation, see the ambassadors' meeting table (so small and crowded, even empty), collect an EU bag (nice) and  thermos and move on.

The crowds Saturday!  

Oh, my!  The waits!  Of no less than an hour each at Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Romania and Slovenia.  

Too much and too many!

Student art depicting the importance of water was displayed in a hallway at the EU Delegation building. A description of the artist, an elementary school student in Croatia, Nela Bolfek, included: "The water in Croatia is still clean and she [the artist] realizes that she is the one who will in the future protect the cleanliness of the water."/By Patricia Leslie

A gallery of student art at the EU Delegation building/By Patricia Leslie

From the EU building, up 22nd I walked to find massive crowds, here at the Luxembourg embassy on the left and, across Mass Ave., a line waiting for Greece/By Patricia Leslie

The line at Luxembourg wrapped left around the building and then down a street. Beer's always a good draw but it wasn't necessary Saturday since the crowds came, beer or not which was usually the latter/By Patricia Leslie

After an hour's wait, finally!  Here we are at the Romanian embassy/By Patricia Leslie

Nothing to consume at Romania (like I only go for the eats, but they do make a difference; sure) but dancers and singers to entertain under a tent outside.

 Romanian dancers entertain those in the line/By Patricia Leslie

More Romanian dancers entertain/By Patricia Leslie

At last!  Inside one of the EU embassies which was Romania here where a wine salesman talked about the goodness of Romanian wines, but (sorrow) none to sample! Perhaps, I was too young/By Patricia Leslie

Upstairs at the Romanian embassy. See the beautiful railing and the luxurious room which overlooks 23rd/By Patricia Leslie

Upstairs at the Romanian embassy/By Patricia Leslie

Upstairs at the Romanian embassy/By Patricia Leslie

Upstairs at the Romanian embassy/By Patricia Leslie

Meanwhile, back on the streets, take a look at this!  The line on the left was waiting for Greece, while the line on the right which is hardly visible, was waiting for Bulgaria.  Wait on, brothers and sisters!  Wait on! I won't be there/By Patricia Leslie

The line to Croatia was too long but these musicians played for the weary/By Patricia Leslie

Alas, the line was too long at Slovenia for me to wait. After three hours, all I got in was one embassy (Romania) and the EU House. Last week I visited eight of the embassies where none of us starved.  Maybe, the non-EUs can give classes to the EUs and show them how "open embassies day" is done right/By Patricia Leslie

At Croatia I did not wait, nor at Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia, or Luxembourg, but on the sidewalk beyond the line at Luxembourg, I chanced upon some lads who told me they skipped the tour line and headed straight for the tented outdoor bar (okay with the guard) which took me about 20 seconds to join them and sample beer (which tasted like apple beer ?) and collect American candy bars (?) and cookies.

Ahhh...some sustenance.  It was after lunch, but everyone seemed happy and no one was complaining, although several gave up waiting in the lines and moved on.  Smart people!

On my way to Slovenia (having missed the California Ave. turn), I passed by the former Venezuelan embassy and residence, all closed up now but not several years ago when Hugo Chávez was president, and the Corcoran Gallery (or the Smithsonian? can't remember) hosted a wonderful (paid) dinner for members and a first-floor tour of the facility.

Nice!  

Today we were blessed by cloudy skies, a drizzle here and there, excellent waiting temperatures and, after all, opportunities to visit embassies, presuming you had all day and night, if they were open that long. Not!

patricialesli@gmail.com

Opera at the Bulgarian Music Society

Opera on stage at the Embassy of Bulgaria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Neighbors north of Massachusetts Avenue not far from the Cosmos Club may have wondered if the Washington National Opera was presenting an outdoor concert Friday night since stars came out to sing opera at the nearby Embassy of Bulgaria.

Sonya Argiro sings at the Embassy of Bulgaria, accompanied by pianist Ivo Kaltchev/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A principal artist for Metropolitan Opera, native-born Bulgarian bass, Valentin Peytchinov, sang a mixture of classical and popular music for the concert series of the Bulgarian Music Society with two sopranos, Sonya Argiro and Katrin Bulke, all performing solos and all accompanied by pianist Ivo Kaltchev.

 Katrin Bulke at the Embassy of Bulgaria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Mr. Peytchinov sang Mephistopheles Serenade from Faust (Charles Gounod, 1818-1893), Richard Rodgers' (1902-1979) "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific, and, at the end, an encore from the Barber of Seville.

Ms. Argiro, who began her musical career in Bulgaria,
sang "I Mustn't Think of You" by Gheoghi Zlatev-Cherkin (1905-1977), "Don't You Sing, My Early Bird" by Dimitar Petkov (1919-1997), and the Odabella aria from Attila by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901).

 Valentin Peytchinov sings Faust at the Embassy of Bulgaria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Ms. Bulke's program included The Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) and the Guiditta aria from Giuditta by Franz Lehar (1870-1948).

Mr. Kaltchev is the co-director and co-founder of the Washington International Piano Festival.

 From left, Valentin Peytchinov sings an encore from the Barber of Seville while Katrin Bulke and Sonya Argiro listen at the Embassy of Bulgaria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

All four performers are international stars who have starred in productions around the world, winning prizes and competitions.

Mr. Peytchinov said Bulgaria has more classical musicians per capita than any other country in the world (although an audience member, perhaps Finnish, took exception, whispering that honor belongs to Finland).

From left, Ivo Kaltchev, Valentin Peytchinov, Katrin Bulke, and Sonya Argiro celebrate their performance at the Embassy of Bulgaria/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Preceding the entertainment was the screening of a film by Elena Dragostinova and Yordan Boychev, Making Dreams Come True, about the renowned Bulgarian opera star, Boris Christoff (1914-1993) whose former home in Sofia is now a cultural center, museum, and studio for opera students and other artists.  

In front of the Embassy of Bulgaria is a bust of Vasil Levski, 1837-1873, a Bulgarian hero who led a revolution to rid his nation of Ottoman rule/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In addition to opera and a film, photography was also featured at the embassy with a new exhibition by Svetoslav Tchoulin, a native of Sofia. 

Mr. Tchoulin photographs city life, and, in his pictures at the embassy, omitted people so that viewers may connect more deeply with the subjects, a speaker explained. According to program notes, his photographs "turn the trivial into original."

The performance was presented by the Bulgarian Music Society, the Embassy of Bulgaria, the Museum Boris Christoff, Concert Evenings in New York, and Vocal Productions NYC Corporation.

This fall marks the beginning of the Bulgarian Music Society's tenth year in Washington.



patricialesli@gmail.com