Announcing Versailles in New York: July 21 & 23, 2025
My Gorgeous Gallic Gravediggers,
This is a big one, friends: we are très, très, TRÈS excited to finally announce details of our opulent celebration of the New York début of the Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra. A true jewel in the crown of Death of Classical's 2025 Season, it is our absolute privilege and honor to partner with our amazing friends at Festival Napa Valley and Atout France, to bring this singular ensemble to our glorious city, in two unique, bespoke, and absolutely over-the-top musical presentations, July 21 and July 23.
July 21 - Versailles in Printemps: The Affair of the Poisons
The Francophilic fun kicks off July 21, with Versailles in Printemps: The Affair of the Poisons. This one-of-a-kind, immersive after-hours experience will take place throughout the exquisite new retail and hospitality concept Printemps New York at One Wall Street.
Conceived and directed by DoC Founder & Artistic Director Andrew Ousley, the evening will explore "The Affair of the Poisons" - a pivotal historic moment in Louis XIV's court, weaving a tale of palace intrigue laced with poison and steeped in superstition and witchcraft, from a Black Mass to a murder plot involving Louis' favorite mistress.
Centered around a performance by the Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra, audience members will wander through the spectacular spaces, encountering interactive performances while enjoying complimentary food curated by Printemps New York, wine selections from the acclaimed Bouchaine Vineyards, and more.
Attendees are strongly encouraged to embrace the spirit of the show, so don your finest Court attire and your frilliest Rococo frippery, and let's party like it's 1699.
Get tickets to the immersive experience at Printemps New York HERE!
July 23 - Versailles at L'Alliance
The revelry continues on Wednesday July 23rd with Versailles at L'Alliance. We'll offer an evening centered around a full performance by the Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra conducted by Stefan Plewniak, along with the great countertenor Franco Fagioli, in his North American debut. We're taking over L'Alliance New York, a gorgeous midtown bastion of French culture, where we'll share a pre-show reception (included in ticket price) featuring charcuterie and similarly thematically-appropriate cuisine, as well as an aperitif of fine wines by Bouchaine Vineyards and more.
Once we've ate and drunk our fill, we'll make our way to the theater for the main event: a program entitled "Arias for Velluti, The Last Castrato" that centers around Giovanni Battista Velluti, generally considered the last great Castrato, and features music by Rossini, Nicolini, Bonfichi, Zingarelli, Mercadante and more.
A select number of higher-priced tickets will offer the full "Louis XIV Experience" - offering a truly lavish, luxuriant and palatial evening that includes a separate pre-show reception in "Le Skyroom," premium seating for the concert, and the coup de grâce: a post-show salon hosted by Freeman’s | Hindman New York Auctions, where we'll take a short summer night stroll up Fifth avenue to their one-of-a-kind townhouse, where we'll enjoy world-class food and drink, fine art, furniture, and jewelry, and site-specific performances of music, dance, theater, storytelling, mime, and more. It promises to be a fête worthy of the Sun King himself.
Get tickets to Versailles at L'Alliance HERE!