The black-tie fundraiser at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday night was, by all accounts, a swanky affair – but there was at least one flat note. The Palm Beach Opera backed out of performing at the gala benefiting the Red Cross because of concerns about protesters gathered to oppose the president, who was the guest of honor.
The performing group’s director, Daniel Biaggi, tells us that the group was set to perform a selection of songs for attendees of the glitzy soiree, but members of the troupe and its staff worried about safety after seeing news reports about protesters planning to gather at the ritzy venue to voice objections to Trump’s presidency.
“We just didn’t know if we could guarantee the safety of our young performers,” he said, referring to an opera-residency program for early-career singers. Biaggi said he hated to back out of the (paid) gig after promising to be there, but he informed organizers Thursday that the group wouldn’t be taking part.
It didn’t, he said, have anything to do with politics – as has been the case with a number of artists reluctant to associate themselves with the controversial POTUS. “Safety comes first,” he said.
About 1,200 people carried signs and marched Saturday night near Trump’s beachfront property, as revelers inside enjoyed a “Vienna to Versailles”-themed gala. According to news reports, the demonstration was peaceful.
(c) 2017, The Washington Post · Emily Heil
