Soprano Maria Abela Manconi performing at the innauguration of the Grand Master���s Hall.
On Friday, April 20th, after a rapid restoration and
redecoration, the President and First Lady inaugurated
the Grand Masters��� Hall (see accompanying article) with
a concert and reception featuring their daughter, Maria
Abela Manconi, an accomplished soprano, and pianist
Ricardo Cambari. Her remarkable voice, to my ear, 18th
century in its timbre, commanded a program that ranged
from Scarlatti to Beethoven and from Debussy and Straus
II to Puccini. Two hundred fifty guests were welcomed
by the President and First Lady, who introduced a video
about the restoration of the room and about all of those
who contributed to it.
I sat next to former American Ambassador, Professor
Douglas Kmiec, who sat across the narrow aisle from the
President and First Lady. Pippa Toledo, who decorated
HYLAND
