Opera for Peace Academy – Concert
The Gala Concert marks the culmination of the Opera for Peace & Denyce Graves Foundation Academy. After a week of individual coaching, masterclasses, and professional workshops, the nine selected talents will present excerpts from operas reflecting the repertoire studied during the Academy.
The program has been curated jointly by the mentors and artistic team to showcase the participants’ artistic growth and versatility.
This evening celebrates international collaboration and artistic excellence through opera.
Program
CENDRILLON – Jules Massenet
• Enfin je suis ici — Ella Mbali Nkwanyana Vaughn, Soprano (US)
SIMON BOCCANEGRA – Giuseppe Verdi
• Come in quest’ora bruna — Clothilde Benard Culeux, Soprano (France)
• Duet Cielo di stelle orbato / Vieni a mirar la cerula — Clothilde Benard Culeux, Soprano (France) & Eduardi Niave, Tenor (Mexico)
MADAMA BUTTERFLY – Giacomo Puccini
• Un bel dì, vedremo — Saane Aziza Halaholo, Soprano (US)
• Duet Vogliatemi bene — Saane Aziza Halaholo, Soprano (US) & Eduardi Niave, Tenor (Mexico)
WERTHER – Jules Massenet
• Va! laisse couler mes larmes — Allison Fahey, Mezzo-Soprano (US)
• Pourquoi me réveiller — Laurynas Aksamitas, Tenor (Lithuania)
• Duo (excerpt from Ainsi, leur destin… Je t’aime up to the F♯ climax) — Allison Fahey, Mezzo-Soprano (US) & Laurynas Aksamitas, Tenor (Lithuania)
L’ELISIR D’AMORE – Gaetano Donizetti
• Duet Caro elisir! — Ella Mbali Nkwanyana Vaughn, Soprano (US) & Laurynas Aksamitas, Tenor (Lithuania)
• Trio Tran, tran, tran… — Ella Mbali Nkwanyana Vaughn, Soprano (US), Laurynas Aksamitas, Tenor (Lithuania) & Carlos Fernando Reynoso Jurado, Baritone (Mexico)
IL TROVATORE – Giuseppe Verdi
• O toi mon seul espoir — Eduardi Niave, Tenor (Mexico)
FAUST – Charles Gounod
• Ah! je ris de me voir — Tiffany Choe, Soprano (Korea/US)
• Vous qui faites l’endormie (Serenade) — Sebastian Barboza, Bass (Argentina)
• Trio Alerte! Alerte! — Tiffany Choe, Soprano (Korea/US), Sebastian Barboza, Bass (Argentina) & Laurynas Aksamitas, Tenor (Lithuania)
Credits
- Julia Lagahuzère – Founder & General Director
- Kamal Khan – Artistic & Musical Director & Pianist
- Michel El Ghoul – Stage, Art & Production Design Director
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.
Participating Artists:
- Sebastián Barboza, Bass – Argentina
- Carlos Reynoso, Baritone – Mexico
- Eduardo Niave, Tenor – Mexico
- Laurynas Aksamitas, Tenor – Lithuania
- Allison Fahey, Mezzo-Soprano – United States
- Jinni Shen, Soprano – China
- Tiffany Choe – Soprano, United States (Korean-American)
- Clothilde Benard, Soprano – France
- Ella Mbali Vaughn, Soprano – United States
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