About this Event
L’Opera Comique de Washington proudly presents “The Life of Spring,” an intimate evening of French art songs at the Pen Arts Building in Washington D.C. on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 7PM.
Featuring soprano Victoria McGrath and pianist Simon Charette, “The Life of Spring” explores the life cycle of spring, from the sanctity of nature and new love, to visions of rebirth and the promise of tomorrow. The program features favorite art songs, such as “Après un rêve,” “Chanson triste”, and “Morgen!”, in addition to lesser performed works by Fauré and Amy Beach.
The recital will be followed by a champagne reception. It promises to be a lovely evening filled with lively music and the chance to celebrate spring and the promises of life.
About the Artists:
Simon Charette
Simon Charette is a sought-after conductor, collaborative pianist, and vocal coach based in Washington, DC. Passionate about opera from an early age, Simon is the founder and artistic director of L'Opéra Comique de Washington.
In 2022, he was named Artistic Director of the newly founded French Choir of Washington. Simon is the Music Director of the North Bethesda United Methodist Church in Bethesda, MD. He is also the Artistic Director of the Choir of the Embassy of France in Washington. He conducted this ensemble for French President Emmanuel Macron's address in Washington, DC, in 2018 and 2022. Recently, Simon worked as assistant conductor and pianist for the Washington Opera Society and also served as assistant conductor of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra in Annapolis, MD, and chorus master & assistant conductor for the Southern Maryland Youth Orchestra and Chorus in Leonardtown, MD. Recently, he has worked with the National Music Festival Orchestra, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. After receiving a Master’s degree from the Université de Montréal, he furthered his training at the Académie Musicale de Villecroze (France), at the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy (London, Ontario), at the American Institute for Musical Studies (Graz, Austria), and at the Accademia Europea dell’Opera (Lucca, Italy).
Victoria McGrath
A New York City native, soprano Victoria McGrath is at home in opera, concert work, and new works. Most recently, Victoria was heard in Oberaudorf, Germany, performing excerpts from Les contes d’Hoffmann and Die Zauberflöte with MusikTheater Bavaria. Other recent engagements include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Littler Daughter (Proving Up), and Musetta (La bohème) with the Maryland Opera Studio, as well as Papagena (Die Zauberflöte) with Washington Opera Society. A frequent recitalist, Victoria has performed French language concerts with the French Choir of Washington D.C.; fundraising recitals for the Ukraine with Baltimore Musicales and Aquilon Music Festival; and curated song and aria recitals for Easton Art Academy and the Columbus Citizens Foundation. An advocate for new music, Ms. McGrath has covered roles in Paul Davies’ Ourland and John Musto’s Later the Same Evening, in addition to performing excerpts from Justine F. Chen’s The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing. In 2019, she commissioned and premiered a new setting of Ave Maria by Daniel Ficarri; their original recording subsequently aired on Christ Cathedral’s radio program, “Music from the Tower.” Upcoming engagements include competing in the finals of FAVA’s Grand Concours Competition in French Art Song and Arias, a curated recital of French art songs with L’Opera Comique de Washington, and her debut with Camerata Bardi/ Teatro Grattacielo as Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore. Ms. McGrath is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, where she earned an MM in Opera Performance under the tutelage of the world-renowned bass baritone, Kevin Short.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
National League of American Pen Women, 1300 17th Street Northwest, Washington, United States
USD 100.00
