World Premiere Recording of Edmond Dédé's "Morgiane" Unveiled

First Complete Opera by a Black American Composer Comes to Light After Over a Century

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The world premiere recording of Edmond Dédé's 1887 opera "Morgiane" has been released, marking the first complete opera by a Black American composer to be heard in its entirety. The discovery of Dédé's unedited manuscript inspired a collaborative effort between Opera Lafayette and OperaCréole to bring this long-lost work to life, over a century after its completion.

Why it matters

Dédé's "Morgiane" represents a significant milestone in American opera history, as the first complete opera by a Black composer to be widely accessible. The opera serves as a bridge between cultures, blending American and French influences while giving voice to marginalized perspectives. Its rediscovery and premiere recording confront the silences of history and restore Dédé's rightful place in the operatic canon.

The details

Born a free Creole of color in New Orleans, Dédé fled the segregated South to build his career in France, where his composing style was deeply influenced. "Morgiane" is a four-act epic set in Arabia and Persia, showcasing Dédé's musical brilliance even as he feared his work would never be heard. The world premiere recording features an international cast, the OperaCréole Ensemble, and the Opera Lafayette Orchestra performing on period instruments.

  • Edmond Dédé completed "Morgiane" in 1887.
  • The world premiere recording was released on January 30, 2026.

The players

Edmond Dédé

A free Creole of color born in New Orleans who built his composing career in France, Dédé is the creator of the opera "Morgiane".

Givonna Joseph

The founder of OperaCréole, a company dedicated to researching and performing lost or rarely performed works by composers of African descent.

Patrick Dupre Quigley

The Artistic Director of Opera Lafayette, who collaborated with OperaCréole to bring Dédé's "Morgiane" to life.

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What they’re saying

“Completing 'Morgiane' in 1887 was an act of artistic defiance. Its performance more than a century later confronts the silences of history – and restores to Dédé the place he was once denied. This opera matters, not only because it is beautiful, but because it rewrites the story of who shaped the operatic canon.”

— Givonna Joseph, Creative Collaborator (The New York Times)

“This is our cultural patrimony that we lost because of a terrible time in our history. […] We must listen to this because if we don't, we are not having a dialogue with our (American) culture.”

— Patrick Dupre Quigley (CNN)

What’s next

The world premiere recording of Edmond Dédé's "Morgiane" is available for purchase and streaming starting January 30, 2026.

The takeaway

The rediscovery and premiere recording of Edmond Dédé's "Morgiane" represents a significant moment in American opera history, restoring the work of a pioneering Black composer to its rightful place and expanding the diversity of voices represented in the operatic canon.