Opera Lafayette is the recipient of a $410,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. The grant will support the performance and recording of “Morgiane” by Edmond Dédé, the earliest existing opera by a Black American. The opera will be conducted by Quigley the world premiere showcases in February 2025 at Lincoln Theatre in Washington, Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York {…}
OperaCréole and Opera Lafayette present Edmond Dédé’s the never-performed work “Morgiane.” Only recently discovered, “Morgiane” is believed to be the earliest extant complete opera by a Black American. The world premiere is presented in a concert version by Mary Elizabeth Williams, Kenneth Kellogg, Chauncey Packer, Joshua Conyers, Jonathan Woody, along with members of Opera Creole chorus. The Opera Lafayette Orchestra performs {…}
(Photo credit: NBC) On Feb. 5, the NBC Nightly News ran a feature on OperaCréole and Opera Lafayette on their efforts to produce the earliest known opera by a Black American,”Morgiane.” NBC Nightly News traveled to New Orleans to film a segment on OperaCréole’s Artistic Director Givonna Joseph and her work to bring restorative justice to American opera through presentations {…}