Morgiane, ou le Sultan d’Ispahan, is believed to be the earliest extant opera written by a Black American composer, Edmond Dédé. Dédé grew up in New Orleans in 1827, a fourth generation free Black Créole, and fled to France before the Civil War. He audited classes at the Paris Conservatoire and made a career in Bordeaux as a conductor and composer of concert, theater and popular, “café” music. His 1887 “grand opera” Morgiane, languished in manuscript form for more than 130 years, until it was discovered at a Harvard Library in 2008. Givonna Joseph of New Orleans’ OperaCréole partnered with DC’s Opera Lafayette’s Patrick Dupre Quigley to bring this long-forgotten opera to life.
Morgiane, with a libretto by Louis Brunet, a Bordelais journalist, is a light rescue opera and reflects the 19th century French fascination with Persia, whose culture inspired many works of art, literature and music. In four acts, it tells the story of Morgiane, whose daughter Amine discovers that her beloved father is in fact her stepfather. Amine is then kidnapped on her wedding day by minions of the Sultan of Ispahan, who wants to add her to his harem. Disguising themselves as entertainers, her parents and brand-new husband rush to her aid but are sentenced to death by the Sultan’s forces. Morgiane saves the day when she admits that she is actually the Sultan’s former wife, and that Amine is his daughter. All is forgiven, amidst much rejoicing.
Opera Lafayette Artistic Director Patrick Quigley describes Dédé’s music as “both exciting and innovative, combining a European style and overtones of Southern Americana and brass band music with virtuosic, tour-de-force vocal writing.” Alex Ross of the New Yorker agrees: “Morgiane gives the impression that Dédé was steeped in opera from an early age. He knows all the tricks.”
You will get a chance to hear Morgiane, along with commentary by its “musical parents”, Patrick Dupre Quigley and Givonna Joseph, on WETA Virtuoso April 22 at 2 p.m. and on WETA VivaLaVoce as the “Opera at 8” on April 29.
Edmond Dédé’s Morgiane, ou le Sultan d’Ispahan (1887)
A World Premiere Recording
Cast:
Morgiane: Mary Elizabeth Williams, soprano
Kourouschah (the Sultan): Kenneth Kellogg, bass
Amine: Nicole Cabell, soprano
Hagi Hassan: Joshua Conyers, baritone
Ali: Chauncey Packer, tenor
Beher: Jonathan Woody, bass-baritone
OperaCréole Ensemble
Opera Lafayette Orchestra
Patrick Dupre Quigley, conductor
Givonna Joseph, creative collaborator
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