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Rehearsals are underway for L’Epreuve Villageoise (The Village Trial), a french comic opera by Grétry, written in 1784. The producing company, Opera Lafayette http://www.operalafayette.org/ has invited me to join their 25 piece period orchestra, 4 principal vocalists and chorus as an on-stage concertina player where I will be squeezing out tunes and songs on the Anglo (and dancing too!) in this highly amusing production. Opera Lafayette’s 20th anniversary season closes with an opera that delighted audiences during the early 19th century, not only in an opera-rich Europe, but also in the young American cities of New Orleans and New York. With an extraordinary cast hailing from the three nations whose cultures animated New Orleans at the time – France, Spain, and the United States – Opera Lafayette re-imagines a performance by the storied Théatre d’Orléans. Grétry’s L’Épreuve Villageoise depicts the trials and tribulations of a small country town. The rustic story and charming musical composition blend beautifully, emphasizing an essential aspect of Grétry’s operas that helped ensure his place as one of the 18th century’s most admired composers. Duration of the show is one hour and 30 minutes without intermission. In French with English supertitles. NYC shows are at Florence Gould Hall: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 7:30pm Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 7pm. Washington D.C. shows are at the Terrace Theater: Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 2:00 PM Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 7:30 PM Tickets are still available for all shows, but if you want to attend, act fast... some of these dates have only a few available seats left.