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 Our 2024-2025 Season 

Celebrates
Edmond Dédé (1827-1903)






19th century New Orleans free composer of color.
Recently discovered after being hidden in a single manuscript for over 130years, Morgiane is believed to be the first complete opera by a African American.
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Sphere on Spiral Stairs

Upcoming Shows

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    3:00 p.m.
June 22, 2025

The New Marigny Theater
2301 Marais St.  New Orleans, LA
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Bud  on the painting created for OperaCréole

Marie Laveau at The French Opera 
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​Jan-Feb. 2025 

We are excited to work with wonderful partners like

Washington, D.C.-based Opera Lafayette,

The Historic New Orleans Collection and The Louisiana  Philharmonic Orchestra

for the

World Premiere of

Edmond Dédé's 1887 opera

Morgiane

HOMECOMING: New Orleans, RESCHEDULED DUE TO SNOW STORM

TO FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025

RESTORE: Washington, D.C., New York City, and Maryland, February 3-7th

 

About the Production

Did you know that the first complete opera by a Black American has been hidden in a single manuscript for over 130 years? Edmond Dédé, a fourth-generation free person of color born in 1827 New Orleans, had an incredibly successful career as a conductor and composer in Bordeaux, France, writing nearly 100 critically and popularly acclaimed works for the French stage. His magnum opus, however—a four act French grand opera on themes from Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves—had yet to receive a premiere at the time of his death, and languished, unrecognized, in private collections and libraries for over a century.

 

Opera Lafayette, with Artistic Director Designate Patrick Quigley, and in partnership with New Orleans’ Givonna Joseph, Founder of OperaCréole, has painstakingly transcribed this monumental work and will present the long overdue world premiere of Dédé’s masterpiece, 138 years after its composition.

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Featuring:

Morgiane: 
Mary Elizabeth Williams, soprano
Opera National de Paris, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera

Sultan Kourouschah:
Kenneth Kellogg, bass*
Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera

 

Haggi Hassan: 
Joshua Conyers, baritone*
Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, New York Philharmonic

 

Ali: 
Chauncey Packer, tenor
Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Regio, Opera Comique

Amine: 

Taylor J. White ...New Orleans performance

OperraCréole, International Performing Arts Intitute, Bavaria Germany, Mobile Opera

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

 

Nicole Cabell, soprano....D.C. and NYC performances
Metropolitan Opera, Cardiff Singer of the World, Royal Opera House

 

Beher: 
Jonathan Woody, bass-baritone
Boston Early Music Festival, Apollo’s Fire, Carmel Bach Festival

Principal Ensemble:

Ivan Griffin, Taylor J. White , Joshua Staes, Valencia Pleasant, and Tony Domino (not shown)

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Chorus: OperaCréole

Orchestras: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

And  Washington, D.C.- based Opera Lafayette

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For tickets to the D.C., NYC, and MD performances, please go to:

https://operalafayette.org/restore

Grants

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Also made possible by 
The Friends of Edmond Dédé Circle

Dr. Wilfred Delphin,  Mark Roudané, Michael and Kathleen Grumich. Pheobe Ferguson.

Jean Baron-Hippolyte, Kitty Roberts,  Dianne Honoré, Steven Edwards, Emmet Geary,

Bill Quigley, Patrick Quigley, Stacie Dawson, Rona King, Gina Monette, Jane Cooper and Bob Heaps, Alexandra Stafford, Mell Branch, Mrs. Beverly Boos, Henry and Joan Folse,

Monsieur Jean Marie Schevin and the Dede family!

Many, many more anonymous donors.

Songs of Victory
Songs of Victory
Jun 22, 2025, 3:00 PM
The New Marigny Theater

2025

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