News & Reviews

By ANDY GARRIGUE With timeless themes of persecution, desire, betrayal and revenge, Camille Saint-Saens’ “Samson and Delilah” has all the elements for wrenching drama, beguiling seduction and shocking violence that one could wish for in an opera. Virginia Opera’s...

The Virginia Opera opened its 43rd season Friday with a bold, artistic initiative – its first production of “Samson and Delilah.” Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns with a libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire, it’s the only Saint-Saëns opera performed regularly. It is blessed...

by M.D. Ridge March 18, 2017 Virginia Opera’s new production of “Turandot” at the Harrison Opera House is a treat for eye and ear, due in no small part to its brilliant director, Lillian Groag. Her inventive staging, costumes and set design bring out all the drama,...

Virginia Opera, staging a German opera hardly ever performed in the United States, boldly makes it its own, setting this tale of the supernatural in the first half of the 19th century in America. Richmond Times-Dispatch, February 18, 2017 Virginia Opera, staging a...

OperaGene Last year I was pleased to see that the Virginia Opera was going to perform Der Freischutz (The Magic Marksman) in their new season, mainly because we do not often get to see this opera in the U.S..  There are at least three perspectives...

After striking productions of Aida, Philip Glass’s Orphée, and Hansel and Gretel, Virginia Opera has seemed content recently to return to mostly opera chestnuts. This season’s winning production of Carl Maria von Weber’s ghost...

“It’s a piece about God and guns,” said Virginia Opera principal conductor and artistic advisor Adam Turner. The opera to which he refers is “Der Freischütz”—“The Magic Marksman”—to be performed this weekend...