Treemonisha is set to be one of the major cultural events in Martinique at the start of 2026. On Saturday February 28, 2026 at 7:30pm, the Tropiques Atrium – Scène nationale de Fort-de-France will host a unique performance of Scott Joplin’s iconic ragtime opera, featuring an exceptional international and Martinican cast.
This ambitious production, both artistic and memorial, brings together cultural institutions, opera artists, musicians, dancers and the Martinican choir to perform a major work of African-American musical heritage.
Treemonisha, a pioneering African-American opera
Completed in 1910 and published in 1911 by Scott Joplin, Treemonisha is considered one of the first African-American operas in history. A pioneer of black opera known as “ragtime”, the composer sought to open the doors to classical music at a time when this universe remained largely the preserve of whites. Through this work, he put forward strong themes such as education, human dignity and fundamental rights, presented as levers of emancipation for the African-American community.
But the opera goes beyond ragtime. With its syncopated, jazz-like rhythms, gospel influences and operetta-inspired passages, Treemonisha is now part of the international repertoire, regularly performed on stages around the world.
A story of emancipation through education
The action of Treemonisha is set on an Arkansas plantation surrounded by dense forest, at a time when the former white owners have left and the black population is organizing to build a new society. Ned and his wife Monisha take over management of the plantation. Eager to see the birth of a generation freed from obscurantist beliefs, they pray to welcome a child they can raise in a wholesome upbringing, without recourse to superstition.
Their wish came true in September 1866, when they discovered a baby abandoned under a tree. They adopted her and named her Treemonisha. From childhood, the young girl worked for a white family in exchange for an education, the school being too far away. She thus becomes the only educated person in the neighborhood. Meanwhile, three characters – Zodzetrick, Luddud and Simon – make their living selling gris-gris and exorcisms, keeping the population in fear and ignorance. As an adult, Treemonisha chooses education and non-violence to free her community from these practices. The opera thus symbolizes the victory of knowledge and conscience over obscurantism.
Scott Joplin, a major figure in American music
Scott Joplin’s work has had a profound impact on the history of music. Ragtime, of which he is one of the leading exponents, fueled the birth of jazz and influenced many composers of art music, including Debussy, Ravel, Milhaud and Poulenc. The rediscovery of his compositions in the 20th century owes much to the cinema. In 1974, the soundtrack to the film The scam (The Sting), inspired by his work and adapted by Marvin Hamlisch, put the spotlight back on his repertoire and contributed to its international rediscovery. Two years later, in 1976, Scott Joplin was posthumously awarded a special Pulitzer Prize for his outstanding contribution to American music.
What is ragtime?
To fully understand Treemonisha It’s essential to return to the meaning of ragtime. The term is made up of two elements: “rag”, which in American slang designates something of little value or a worn-out fabric, and “time”, which refers to time, the era and musical meter.
Ragtime appeared at the end of the 19th century in the Midwestern United States. It is characterized by a pronounced syncopated rhythm, played mainly on the piano, but which can also be performed by an orchestra or brass band. This musical style is one of the major sources of jazz, and introduces a new rhythmic freedom to American music. In 1974, the music for the film The scam by George Roy Hill, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, based on the work of Scott Joplin and adapted by Marvin Hamlisch, won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. In 1976, Scott Joplin was posthumously awarded a special Pulitzer Prize for his outstanding contribution to American music.
Exceptional production in Martinique
The performance of Treemonisha at the Tropiques Atrium will feature a top-class cast. Renowned South African soprano Zandile Mzazi will play the lead role, surrounded by an essentially Martiniquan cast of soloists, dancers and choristers. The original staging, created by Patricia Panton, will be presented in keeping with her artistic vision. First produced at the Cape Town Opera in South Africa, then in France at La Turbie in 2006 and in Martinique in 2009, this production will be dedicated to his memory after his death on December 26, 2025 in Monaco.
The Fondation d’Entreprise SPHERE wished to pay tribute to Patricia Panton with this new performance. Alfredo Troisi, a close friend of the director, has honored her last wish by respecting her staging, with the assistance of Hervé-Claude Ilin. Choreography is by Christiane Emmanuel. Sets, costumes and lighting were created by Alfredo Troisi, offering a close visual and choreographic dialogue with Scott Joplin’s music.
Musical direction and performers
The opera will be conducted by Peter Valentovič, with Kodo Yamagishi on piano, musicians from the Presburg Orchestra and the Chœur Sainte-Thérèse du Père Élie.
Soloists
Treemonisha – Zandile Mzazi (soprano)
Monisha – Marie-Claude Bottius (soprano)
Lucy – Leïla Brédent (soprano)
Ned – Jean-Loup Pagésy (bass)
Remus – Mathys Lagier (tenor)
Zodzetrick – Steeve Brudey Nelson (baritone)
Andy – Joël O’Cangha (tenor)
Parson Alltalk / Simon – Halidou Nombre (baritone/bass)
Cephus – Elvis Miath (tenor)
Luddud – Alexandre Thésée (baritone)
Christiane Emmanuel Dance Company
Klayd Bonheur, Alison Desort, Livia Gercé, Cathy Magloire, Kaiser Remer, Fabrice Vaillant.
Presburg Orchestra
Kodo Yamagishi (piano), Lukáš Szentkereszty (1st violin), Alžbeta Godovičová (2nd violin), Martin Mierny (viola), Michal Haring (cello), František Výrostko (double bass), Barbora Gálová (flute), Jozef Kamencay (clarinet), Ľubomír Petic (horn), Richard Gajdos (trumpet), Mikuláš Havrila (trombone), Marián Michalec (percussion), Alžbeta Struňáková (oboe).
Le Chœur Sainte-Thérèse du Père Élie
Choir director: Guilène Bertrand, originally from Fort-de-France, has been involved in choral singing since the age of 11, and has directed the Sainte-Thérèse choir for almost fifteen years.
A production supported by the SPHERE Foundation
Created in 2004, the SPHERE Corporate Foundation is committed to supporting the art of music and the rediscovery of major works that have fallen into oblivion. It has contributed to the revival of Treemonisha by Scott Joplin, as well as quartets and sonatas by Le Chevalier de Saint-George, the opera L’Amant Anonymeand the international career of soprano Christiane Eda-Pierre.
In 2026, the foundation will produce the opera in tribute to Philippe Persenda and Patricia Panton, continuing its work of transmitting musical heritage.
Tropiques Atrium and cultural partners
Created in 2015 from the merger of CMAC and L’Atrium, Tropiques Atrium – Scène nationale is a public cultural cooperation establishment with the Scène nationale label from the French Ministry of Culture. With an overall budget of 4 million euros and a permanent staff of 32, it programs around 160 performances per season. Its actions are aimed at supporting artists, reinforcing artistic and cultural education, developing partnerships and promoting a mixed audience.
The opera is co-directed with the Tropiques Atrium and co-produced with the Opéra Paris Outre-Mer association, a cultural bridge between France and the French overseas territories, which promotes opera artists and instrumentalists from the French overseas territories and encourages dialogue between the classical repertoire and musical traditions.
Treemonisha will be presented on Saturday February 28, 2026 at 7:30pm at the Tropiques Atrium – Scène nationale de Fort-de-France for a one-off performance.
South African soprano Zandile Mzazi takes on the role of Treemonisha, surrounded by a mostly Martiniquan cast and the Presburg Orchestra conducted by Peter Valentovič.
Treemonisha is an opera in three acts, completed in 1910 and published in 1911 by Scott Joplin. Considered one of the first African-American operas, it focuses on education and emancipation from superstition in a post-slavery black American community.
