School gyrls School gyrls

What Opera Lafayette’s Dido and Aeneas lost in gravitas it gained in charm and specificity.

Morgiane, ou le Sultan d’Ispahan Morgiane, ou le Sultan d’Ispahan

Opera Lafayette and OperaCréole present Edmond Dédé‘s rediscovered opera in a live stream from the Dekelboum Concert Hall at the University of Maryland

And her mother too And her mother too

After a flurry of coverage over the past weeks, Opera Lafayette, in partnership with New Orleans’s OperaCréole, finally premiered Edmond Dédé’s Morgiane, ou Le Sultan d’Ispahan in DC last night.

What’s old is new again What’s old is new again

An 1887 French grand opera by a Black American composer receives its world premiere with Opera Lafayette and OperaCréole next week and is raising questions about the potential of “restorative justice” in the operatic canon.

May, oui… May, oui…

This month: French Baroque from Opera Lafayette, German Requiem at Carnegie Hall, family friendly Haydn from little opera theater of NY, and Wagner’s satin and perfume fetishes?

Variations on salon themes Variations on salon themes

In French opera—until Pelleas et Mélisande anyway—there is always a great deal of dance; often, dance rather than song is the main event.

Taking care of business Taking care of business

Not everyone is happy about the Beethoven sestercentennial.

The lady in question The lady in question

The story shows what may happen when corrupt individuals occupy positions of trust.

Lost in Thrace Lost in Thrace

Handel’s Radamisto returned to New York when Opera Lafayette movingly performed this early masterpiece.

Elopement, Neapolitan style Elopement, Neapolitan style

Niccolò Jommelli, forgotten now, was quite well known in Italy and southern Germany in his day.

The not so great outdoors The not so great outdoors

For all the company’s good intentions this opera-dance combo was not one of its happiest outings.

French tickler French tickler

The concert presented by Opera Lafayette at the Alliance Française last Friday and Saturday was devoted to music of witty, short-lived Emmanuel Chabrier, notably Une Éducation Manquée.

Journey to Italy Journey to Italy

Since its founding 20 years ago, Washington, DC-based Opera Lafayette has devoted its considerable imagination and energy to reviving lesser-known 17th and 18th century French operas.

Disguise and dolls Disguise and dolls

While many performing arts organizations have been reducing their schedules or even closing, Opera Lafayette, a Washington DC-based group dedicated primarily to 17th and 18th century opera, has proven remarkably prosperous.