This delightfully entertaining evening will transform your relationship with opera and classical music. You’ll get to enjoy the soul-stirring beauty of the art form in a way that feels as welcoming and accessible as a jazz or pop show. No knowledge of opera or classical music required!
You love live concerts, don’t you? The feeling of comfort, camaraderie and shared anticipation as you and other audience members wait for the show to start. The lightness in your chest, happy butterflies in your stomach, smile in your eyes. Your heart beating faster and your skin tingling as the music starts and its energy moves through you. You may laugh, cry, move, clap, bounce, or dance. It’s SO FUN!!! 🤩 There is nothing quite like it.
You also enjoy many genres of music and have been curious about opera and classical music for some time. Maybe you heard some of it on TV, or listened online. The beauty of the music gave you chills and opened you up in an unexpected way. Perhaps it brought tears to your eyes or a lump to your throat. You want more of this feeling. You want to go to a live opera concert.
But there’s a problem. What you’ve heard about opera and classical music makes you think you wouldn’t enjoy the show or be welcome there. Things like: opera and classical music are elitist. That the songs are about outdated topics irrelevant to your life. That you won’t be able to understand anything anyway because the songs are not in English. That the audience is full of wealthy, snobby, judgmental, intimidating people.
You imagined going to an opera concert with those people: feeling small and unsure, cheeks burning, chest tightening, and stomach dropping as you anxiously try to hide your lack of knowledge about what is happening on stage. There is no way you would enjoy a show like that. So you gave up and decided not to attend any opera concerts.
And yet…the longing has not faded. You still want to experience a live opera concert. You want to go to a show that is not only beautiful and moving, but enjoyable, entertaining and welcoming. Where you won't feel intimidated or embarrassed about not knowing about the genre, because the event is specifically designed for people who are new to opera and classical music. Where you can relax, laugh loudly, clap enthusiastically, and move to the music without fear of judgment.
*Drumroll please!*
I have the solution for you!
Lessons In Joy, Self-Love & Silliness: A Cabaret Concert! 🥳🥳🥳
This delightfully entertaining evening will transform your relationship with opera and classical music. You’ll get to enjoy the soul-stirring beauty of the art form in a way that feels as welcoming and accessible as a jazz or pop show. No knowledge of opera or classical music required!
Each song featured in the concert is paired with a brief story that connects it to everyday life, with moments of audience interaction sprinkled throughout. There will also be summaries of each song, along with translations of any non-English lyrics, so you will know exactly what is happening and can enjoy the show without anxiety!
This is an 18+ event. While the concert is not centered on adult content, the age requirement is meant to encourage a fun, carefree night out for grown folks, where you can simply relax and enjoy yourself. Cocktail or date-night attire is encouraged, not because this is “opera,” but because dressing up can be awesome and makes the evening feel a little more special. A photo booth will also be available during the pre- and post-concert receptions.
The concert takes place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum (aka “the Lyceum”), in Alexandria, VA. Doors open at 6:45 pm EST for a brief pre-concert reception, giving you time to get settled, enjoy a light refreshment, and snap a few photo booth pictures while your outfits are still fresh. The concert begins at 7:30 pm EST. Afterwards, stay for a lovely reception with savory bites, wine and beer, where you can meet the artists and mingle with fellow attendees.
Today, it’s only $86.13 per ticket! And the best part is, we will give you a 16.25% discount if you buy your ticket by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, July 17, 2026. You pay only $72.13!
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKET NOW!
Chichi (Chinwe) Enu is passionate about creating fun, relatable, and radically inclusive opera and classical music concerts for her audiences. She believes that this music is for your soul, and her mission is to make the art form more accessible, so everyone can experience its richness and emotional power. A self-described “opera comedian,” Chichi uses humor, powerhouse vocals, and her charismatic stage presence to break down barriers around opera and classical music. You can find several of her comedic operatic performances on her YouTube channel, which has garnered over 2 million views.
As the inaugural recipient of the Town of Acton’s Untold Stories Public Art Grant and its first Artist-in-Residence, Chichi produced and headlined concerts that showcased the works of BlPOC, African, and LGBTQ+ classical composers. She is also the founder of Africans in Opera on Instagram, which highlights African opera singers and classical musicians worldwide.
FAQ’s
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Nope! The concert requires no knowledge of opera or classical music and is designed to be a welcoming space for people who are new to the genre.
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Many of the songs will be in English. The program will also include a summary of every song, including those with English lyrics, along with translations of any non-English lyrics, so you will know exactly what is happening.
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Yes! Each song is paired with a brief story that connects it to everyday life, with playful moments of audience interaction sprinkled throughout.
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Chichi Enu, Opera Singer and Dr. Jasmin Lee, Collaborative Pianist
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Yes! 😁 But don’t take my word for it, check-out my YouTube channel to hear me sing!
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The concert will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum (aka “the Lyceum”), in Alexandria, VA.
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Doors open at 6:45 pm EST on Saturday, July 18, 2026. There will be a brief pre-concert reception, giving you time to get settled, enjoy a light refreshment, and snap a few photo booth pictures while your outfits are still fresh. The concert begins at 7:30 pm EST.
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By 9 pm EST, approximately. After the concert, please stay for a lovely reception with savory bites, wine and beer, where you can meet the artist and mingle with fellow attendees.
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Today, it’s only $86.13 per ticket! And the best part is, we will give you a 16.25% discount if you buy your ticket by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, July 17, 2026. You pay only $72.13!
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Yes. This website is powered by Squarespace. Squarespace uses the most up-to-date security protocols to keep your information secure and maintain compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS). Squarespace Payments and all of Squarespace’s payment processors, Stripe, PayPal, and Square are compliant with the applicable PCI standards.
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By 11:59 pm EST on Friday, July 17, 2026.
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Tickets will be sold at the door. All ticket sales end on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 6:30 pm EST.
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Yes, tickets will be sold at the door. All ticket sales end on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 6:30 pm EST.
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All ticket purchases are final, there will be no refunds.
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Cocktail or date-night attire is encouraged, not because this is “opera,” but because dressing up can be awesome and makes the evening feel a little more special. A photo booth will be available during the pre- and post-concert receptions, with photos available for purchase.
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The reception will include savory bites and hors d’oeuvres. Wine, beer and soft drinks will also be served.
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Yes. This is an 18+ event. While the concert is not centered on adult content, the age requirement is meant to encourage a fun, carefree night out for grown folks, where you can simply relax and enjoy yourself.
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Yes! The Lyceum has a parking lot. For overflow parking, metered street parking and parking garages are available nearby.
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Yes! The Lyceum is located near the King Street-Old Town Station (Blue/Yellow lines) and is easily reached by walking.
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Yes! The venue features a wheelchair-accessible entrance, elevator and restrooms.
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On Saturday, July 18, please contact Day of Event Coordinator Rachel Borczuch at (240) 676-0481 with any questions. Before and after Saturday, July 18, please email me at chichi@chichienu.com. I will do my best to respond within 48 hours.
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42. 😜