The sparkle of candlelight. The sheen of gold tablecloths. The shimmer of blue stars floating behind the students who performed for some 850 glittering guests.

It was a shining evening at the Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen Arts Center, which officially opened on Thursday with a gala black-tie President's Circle Dinner. The stars of the evening, of course, were Dr. Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen, whose $20 million gift made possible AU's newest building and Washington's newest landmark.