Opera for Peace Academy – Concert
Concert
© Fabrizio Sansoni
La Maison Française - Villa Albertine
4101 Reservoir Road
Washington, D.C., United States 20007
Friday, November 14th, 2025 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Join Villa Albertine DC and Opera for Peace for the closing opera concert of the Opera for Peace US Academy, in collaboration with the Denyce Graves Foundation and the Washington National Opera.
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
Saane Aziza Halaholo, Soprano – Tonga / United States
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
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.