Opera Lafayette: From St. Cyr to Cannons – Moreau & Handel's Esther
$60-$110 ($30 wheelchair/companion)
- Elisse Albian, soprano
- Jesse Darden, tenor
- Kristen Dubenion-Smith, mezzo-soprano
- Paulina Francisco, soprano
- Jacob Perry, tenor
- Margot Rood, soprano
- Jonathan Woody, bass-baritone & director
- Justin Taylor, harpsichord
Join Opera Lafayette for an evening of works by Jean-Baptiste Moreau and George Frederic Handel celebrating Queen Esther's compelling tale of heroism.
This intimate musical drama is led by award-winning harpsichordist Justin Taylor and Opera Lafayette Artistic Associate Jonathan Woody, and features the Opera Lafayette Orchestra and soloists Elisse Albian, Jesse Darden, Kristen Dubenion-Smith, Paulina Francisco, Jacob Perry, Margot Rood, and Jonathan Woody.
About Elisse Albian, soprano
Hailed by South Florida Classical Review as a “opulent soprano" possessing “rich tones, expressive phrasing," and a "soaring top range,” Elisse Albian finds delight in presenting oratorios, opera, choral compositions, and all that resonates in between. An ardent advocate for the collaborative essence of musical creation, Elisse places immense value on versatility and the inherent instrumental qualities of the human voice.
A crowning achievement in Elisse's journey was securing first place at the Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition hosted by the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall. Their artistic collaborations extend to prestigious groups like the GRAMMY®-nominated Seraphic Fire, Voices of Ascension, The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Musica Sacra, and The Benedict XVI Choir. The 2022-2023 season showcased Elisse as the soprano soloist in performances of Bach's St. John Passion, BWV 245 alongside Voices of Ascension, Bach's Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, and Handel's Messiah with Seraphic Fire. Additionally, Elisse was a soloists for Mozart's Coronation Mass, K. 317, and Vesperes Solennes di Confessore, K. 339, with Kollective366. Their season also included Telemann's Cantatas from the Harmonischer Gottesdienst in collaboration with Theotokos ensemble, presented through Gotham Early Music Scene's Midtown Concert series.
In the upcoming season, Elisse eagerly anticipates performing as the Queen of Sheba in Handel's Solomon alongside Princeton Pro Musica, singing as the first soprano soloist for Handel's Dixit Dominus with Musica Sacra, and joining Opera Lafayette for Moreau and Handel’s Esther. Later this season, Elisse will also perform Benjamin Britten’s thrilling song cycle, Les Illuminations.
Elisse completed a Bachelor’s of Music at the University of California, Los Angeles and recently graduated with a Master of Music in Voice at Mannes (The New School). They reside in Brooklyn, New York.
https://www.elissealbian.com/aboutAbout Jesse Darden, tenor
About Kristen Dubenion-Smith, mezzo-soprano
About Paulina Francisco, soprano
About Jacob Perry, tenor
About Margot Rood, soprano
About Jonathan Woody, bass-baritone & director
About Justin Taylor, harpsichord
Terrace Theater at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St NWWashington, DC 20566
United States
https://www.kennedy-center.org/rentals/theater-rentals/terrace-theater/