Opera for Peace Academy – Masterclass with Denyce Graves
Concert
La Maison Française - Villa Albertine
4101 Reservoir Road
Washington, D.C., United States 20007
Friday, November 14th, 2025 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Join Villa Albertine and Opera for Peace for a unique masterclass with Denyce Graves at the French Embassy.
This masterclass, led by Denyce Graves, world-renowned legend mezzo-soprano and founder of The Denyce Graves Foundation, will focus on refining vocal support, tone production, and character interpretation. Each participant will work on one aria, receiving direct feedback on phrasing, projection, and stylistic accuracy. Ms. Graves will share her approach to maintaining vocal strength and expressiveness across repertoire, drawing on her distinguished operatic and teaching career.
Auditors will observe how technical and artistic guidance converge to shape compelling performance.
Denyce Graves appears by courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera
About Denyce Graves
Renowned for her distinctive voice and captivating stage presence, Denyce Graves has established herself as one of the most celebrated mezzo-sopranos of our time. Beyond her storied career as a performer, she has also made a profound impact as an educator and stage director, inspiring the next generation of opera artists and reshaping the field with her creative vision.
As a teacher, Graves serves as a dedicated mentor, guiding young singers to develop not only their vocal artistry but also their interpretive depth and professionalism. Drawing upon her four and a half decades of extensive experience performing on the world’s premier stages, including The Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, and La Scala, she equips performing artists with the tools to navigate the complexities of a modern operatic career. Known for her nurturing yet exacting approach, she is a sought-after faculty member and masterclass clinician at leading conservatories and training programs worldwide.
In her role as a stage director, Graves brings her deep understanding of character and dramatic storytelling to the forefront. Her productions are characterized by their emotional authenticity, innovative staging, and sensitivity to the nuances of both music and text. As a director, she is deeply invested in creating inclusive narratives, ensuring that opera remains relevant and accessible to contemporary audiences.
About the Opera for Peace US Academy 2025
The Opera for Peace & The Denyce Graves Foundation Academy is a landmark program created by Opera for Peace in partnership with the Denyce Graves Foundation. Building on the success of previous Academies in Rome and Paris since 2022, it brings together exceptional emerging talents, opera luminaries, and visionary cultural leaders for an immersive experience in artistic excellence, mentorship, and peacebuilding through the arts.
Photos: By registering for this event, you consent to being photographed and/or recorded, and authorize the organizers to use your image and likeness for promotional and archival purposes.
Security Rules: Each person attending the event must have a ticket registered in their name and a government-issued ID that matches the name on the reservation to enter the Embassy. No one will be admitted without a reservation and official ID. Due to strict security measures, please arrive on time, as doors will be closed at 7:30 pm sharp. Please allow for extra time for security screenings.
For security reasons, large bags, umbrellas, backpacks, and bike helmets are not allowed on Embassy grounds. The security team may confiscate any items considered inappropriate.
Parking:
There is no on-site parking.
- Metered parking is available on Reservoir Road at $2.30/hour (max 4h until 10pm)
- Garage parking is available at Georgetown MedStar Health (Entrance #2, 2800 Reservoir Road NW), approx. $25 for up to 3 hours
In partnership with
Opera for Peace
Opera for Peace is an international non-profit organization for emerging opera professionals, working in six continents to connect, support, and promote outstanding artists through our Opera for Peace network including high-level Ambassadors, Advisors and Partners.
We focus on Citizen Artists, embracing our positive values, passionate about creating a strong community and using their artistry to become cultural role models. We give priority to artists who need additional support. We focus on different strategic regions to offer local mentorship and empowerment, and most importantly, a way to connect to the wider global cultural community. Learn more here.
The Denyce Graves Foundation
The Denyce Graves Foundation (DGF) bridges the past to future by honoring overlooked musical voices and empowering the next generation of world-class artists. As a nonprofit organization anchored at the intersection of social justice, American history, and the arts, DGF seeks to expand the public’s understanding of the rich, multicultural history of classical music by bringing the stories of our nation’s hidden musical figures to light. Learn more here.
Washington National Opera
In 1956, the sound of opera rang out in DC, heralding the birth of a new company. More than six decades and countless artistic leaps later, Washington National Opera continues to move boldly forward on the great adventure that began years ago in a university auditorium. Washington National Opera is now one of the nation’s leading opera companies and plays to standing room audiences in the Kennedy Center. Learn more here.
La Maison Française
Unique among French diplomatic missions, La Maison Française at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C., offers an environment that encourages friendly relations between states, promotes outreach and cultural events, and serves as a center for professional and educational activities.