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.

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

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

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.

About 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.

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.

Credits: This event is organized by the Institut Français USA - Villa Albertine and the Resources USA Foundation. Resources USA Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting collaboration between the US and France to encourage Innovation in Science, Technology, Culture, and Higher Education.

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Host or Publisher Villa Albertine Washington DC