Opera Lafayette’s 2nd Annual NYC Baroque Music Festival Opens in Grand Style
Opera Lafayette, the esteemed purveyor of hidden operatic treasures from the bygone eras spanning the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, inaugurated its illustrious 2nd Annual NYC Baroque Music Festival in the grandest style imaginable. The resplendent New York gala, graciously chaired by the incomparable Barbara Tober, unfolded with an air of unparalleled elegance on a memorable Tuesday, May 9th, within the opulent confines of El Museo del Barrio.
As guests gathered in eager anticipation, they were greeted with a truly enchanting treat, a captivating opéra-ballet performance featuring Jean Philippe Rameau’s enthralling masterpiece Io, alongside Pierre de La Garde’s timeless creation Léandre et Héro. A momentous occasion indeed, the double bill proudly unveiled the historic world premiere of Rameau’s long forgotten gem Io, adorned in imaginative and awe inspiring costumes meticulously crafted by theatrical virtuoso Machine Dazzle, who graced the gathering with his presence.
An Evening That Bridged Centuries
The festivities seamlessly flowed from the enchanting spectacle to a sumptuous dinner held just across the street, in the regal setting of the Museum of the City of New York. There, Lincoln Center’s esteemed CEO and President, Henry Timms, was bestowed with a well deserved honor. Among the distinguished assemblage of guests were Opera Lafayette’s esteemed co-chairs, Nizam Kettaneh and Dorsey Dunn, along with Artistic Director Ryan Brown. The luminous presence of H.R.H. Princess Chantal de France and Baron François Xavier de Sambucy de Sorgue further enriched the illustrious gathering. Notable personalities such as Afsaneh Akhtari, Suzi Cordish, Layla Diba, Cornelius Escaravage, Christopher Kip Forbes, Michele Gerber Klein, Susan Gutfreund, Maria Eugenia Maury and Bill Haseltine, Joan Hardy Clark, Margaret and Gregory Hedberg, Sylvia Hemingway, Helen Little, Andrew Martin Weber, Ann Van Ness, Barbara de Portago, Sana Sabbagh, Daisy Soros, and Prince Dmitri of Yugoslavia lent an air of sophisticated glamour to the proceedings.
Opera Lafayette’s passion for breathing new life into forgotten masterpieces was palpable throughout the evening. With spellbinding performances featuring rising star singers and musicians adeptly wielding period instruments, their distinctive artistry transported the enraptured audience to a bygone era where beauty and captivating storytelling reigned supreme. What continues to set the company apart is not merely their technical mastery of period performance, but the genuine sense of discovery they bring to each rediscovered work, treating centuries old scores not as museum pieces but as living stories still capable of moving a modern audience. This unwavering commitment to artistic excellence continues to shape Opera Lafayette’s legacy, rendering them true vanguards of their craft.
For those who crave an immersive journey into the annals of musical history, where the echoes of forgotten melodies and compelling narratives resurface to enthrall contemporary audiences, Opera Lafayette remains an indispensable beacon.
we invite you to visit their official website at https://operalafayette.org/.
