Opera Camerata of Washington

The Opera Camerata of Washington, founded 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 genre, from composers such as Bellini, Rossini, Donizetti, and Verdi – many of which were Washington, DC premieres.

The Company’s commitment to the betterment of the community at large is well-demonstrated by its various programs to bring opera to the general public 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. 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 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.