Scalia, Ginsburg play nonspeaking opera roles
Associated Press
10/25/09 1:15 PM EDT
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she spent "an entirely enchanting evening" on stage with the Washington National Opera.
Ginsburg and Justice Antonin Scalia had non-speaking roles in Saturday night's performance of "Ariadne auf Naxos" (are-EE-AHD-nay off NACKS-ohs). They played guests at a dinner party and were on stage for nearly 90 minutes.
At one point, Russian soprano Lyubov Petrova sat on Scalia's lap and placed her arm around him, causing the audience to burst into applause. Scalia says he can't remember having more fun on stage.
The justices were joined by Ginsburg's husband, Georgetown University law professor Martin Ginsburg, D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and arts philanthropist Adrienne Arsht.
The opera by Richard Strauss depicts a serious opera company and a comedic troupe performing at the same time.
