Edmond Dédé’s Morgiane Opera Makes Historic NYC and D.C. Debut in February 2025

New York and Washington, D.C.
February 3 - February 7, 2025
The long-awaited world premiere of Edmond Dédé’s Morgiane (1887)—the earliest known full-length opera written by a Black American composer—will finally be performed in February 2025 in New York and Washington, D.C.
Last week, Morgiane was performed for the first time in New Orleans, 140 years after it was composed, at St. Louis Cathedral, the very place where Dédé was baptized. This premiere marks a monumental moment in the rediscovery of an opera that had remained largely unknown until now.
Dédé, a Black American composer, spent much of his career in France, particularly in Bordeaux, where he composed and conducted orchestral works that earned acclaim across some of the France’s most prestigious stages. Known for blending diverse musical traditions, Morgiane is a rich fusion of genres and cultures, drawing on French, African, and Creole influences. Despite its historical importance, it has remained a hidden gem for over a century and yet to be heard.
Opera Créole co-founders Givonna Joseph and her daughter Aria Mason spearheaded this revival after learning of the existence of Dédé’s long-lost manuscript. They made it their mission to bring the full opera to life, a dream realized after more than a decade of dedicated work. This revival is the result of a dynamic partnership between the Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC), the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Créole, Opera Lafayette, and Villa Albertine, and it marks a pivotal moment in the reclamation of Dédé’s life, music, and legacy.
Several performances are scheduled:
Washington, D.C.
Date: February 3, 2025
Venue: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St NW, Washington, DC
Pre-performance conversation: Givonna Joseph and musicologist Candace Bailey will discuss Dédé’s life and music.
Tickets
New York City
Date: February 5, 2025, 7:00 PM
Venue: Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street, New York, NY
Pre-performance conversation: Givonna Joseph and musicologist Candace Bailey will discuss Dédé’s life and music.
Tickets
College Park, MD
Date: February 7, 2025, 7:00 PM
Venue: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Dekelboum Hall, 8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD
Pre-performance conversation: Givonna Joseph and musicologist Candace Bailey will discuss Dédé’s life and music.*
Tickets
Additionally, on February 4, 2025, from 8:00–9:00 PM, there will be a panel discussion featuring Givonna Joseph, Opera Lafayette’s Patrick Quigley, and Marc A. Scorca, President and CEO of OPERA America. The conversation will delve into the process of reviving Dédé’s work, delving into the production, its cultural significance, and the French Creole and Louisiana influences that shape it.
Venue: OPERA America’s National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, and livestreamed.
Registration