1. State of the Arts T he Opera Camerata of Washington, founded
Dinner Concerts
in 1980, has become one of the best-known
and most popular arts organizations in the Nation’s
Capital. Since its inception, the Company has
produced many operatic rarities of the Bel Canto
The Opera Camerata of Washington performed at the
genre, from composers such as Bellini, Rossini,
Embassy of the Russian Federation in May, 2008 under the Donizetti, and Verdi – many of which were
patronage of His Excellency Yuri Ushakov, Ambassador of Washington, DC premieres.
the Russian Federation, for the benefit of Opera Camerata’s The Company’s commitment to the betterment of
the community at large is well-demonstrated by its
In-School Program and the Prince A.N. Obolensky School for
various programs to bring opera to the general public
Special Children in Kaluga Province, Russia. through its In-School Programs; these bring opera
and classical music education to the inner-city schools
at no cost to the school system. Additionally, the
Company produces small, intimate programs through
its Salon Series which reproduce how the classical
arts were presented in private homes during the last
centuries; thus, the name Camerata, meaning small,
intimate gatherings of artists. Many of the programs
present younger artists who have yet to make their
singing debuts with larger companies.
In the year 2000, the Camerata appointed Maestro
Gregory Buchalter to become the Artistic Director.
International Soprano Beatrice Beer performs opera and concerts throughout the world
Gregory Buchalter, also an Assistant Conductor at
the New York City Metropolitan Opera, regularly
brings world famous singing talent to the audiences
of Washington, DC. Most recently, superstar Sarah
Coburn, of the Metropolitan Opera and elsewhere,
appeared at the Embassy of the Russian Federation,
to the delight of our patrons. The benefit dinner/
concert raised funds for the Camerata’s In-School
Program as well as the Russian Ambassador’s
favorite orphanage in Russia.
In the last eight years, the Company has
produced unique concerts in schools, synagogues,
theaters, universities, art galleries, private homes,
and embassies featuring little-known and /or rarely
produced music highlighting our important cultural
past. Embassy concerts are frequently produced
featuring the host country’s leading composers,
music, and singers. Audiences are regularly treated
to Austrian/German operetta from composers such as
Robert Stolz and Emmerich Kalman, and
Johan Strauss, Jr. Appearances at the Israeli,
Russian, French, Japanese, Hungarian, Spanish,
and Dominican embassies have been very popular.
Scheduled events for the fall of 2008 include a Mme. Ambassador Svetlana Ushakov (wife of Russian Ambassador); international singing sensation Sarah Coburn – Star of the evening’s event
concert/dinner at the home of the Danish Ambassador,
a large concert at the Embassy of the Republic of
Poland, and a Christmas/Hanukah concert at the
Willard Hotel. All these events will raise money for
our regular public programs which will allow seniors,
students and others to take advantage of low-priced
tickets to attend grand opera events as well as our
Schools Program.
Visitors to the Nation’s Capital may join our regular
patrons who enjoy opera/operetta scenes, concerts,
rarities or infrequently produced music set in an
elegant venue; or, they may prefer to attend any
number of public events which are held throughout the
city, usually starting in March or April.
Tel +1.202.722.5335
www.OperaCamerata.org
Viscountess Gertrude d’Amecourt , Mrs. Raisa Scriabine, Mr. Vladimir Tolstoy, Venezuela Soprano Adriana Balzan, Princess Alexis N. Obolensky
11 Best of DC Best of DC 334
Soprano Amy Cofield Williamson and her husband, Tenor and Conductor, Scott Williamson perform regularly with the Opera Camerata of Washington (image courtesy - Opera Camerata)