News & Reviews

By Terry Ponick With astonishing performances by Cecilia Violetta López and Malcolm MacKenzie, Virginia Opera's current production of Verdi's tuneful, tragic masterpiece is a genuine three-hankie surprise. Young soprano Cecilia Violetta López astonishes as Violetta in...

By Joan Reinthaler The Virginia Opera has a fine “La Traviata” on its hands. Verdi’s sad but sumptuous opera opened Saturday for two performances at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts. And while soprano Cecilia Violetta Lopez’s Violetta may have carried the...

By David Siegel Be smitten with Violetta, the brave woman who learns that “love can be inspired by a passing glance,” but happiness is not such an easy journey. This is the grand sweep of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” the world’s most performed opera, coming to the Center...

By Sarah Kingsley To close the season, Virginia Opera premieres a brand new traditional staging of La Traviata, directed by Lilian Groag. A classic Italian opera composed by one of the masters of the art form – Giuseppe Verdi – La Traviata is the most performed opera...

By B. J. Atkinson - The Virginian-Pilot When an opera production's a hit, especially one in which the plot hinges on antiquated mores, there's more going on than pretty music. The director must bring the tale into the 21st century, involve us and make us care. Lillian...

By Craig Shapiro - The Virginian-Pilot NO OTHER OPERA in the world was staged more often the last five seasons. It figures prominently in the Julia Roberts movie "Pretty Woman." And Virginia Opera is putting it on for the seventh time, capping the company's 40th...

By David Adam Beloff - The Virginian-Pilot Time to go to the opera! "La Traviata" opens on Friday night. Dust off your best tux/dress and enjoy this classic opera at the Harrison Opera House. Purchase tickets here. From the promoter:  Virginia Opera...

By Montague Gammon III What can you say about a beautiful young courtesan who dies? : The exceptional party scene from La Traviata. Photo courtesy of Des Moines Metro Opera in a co-production with Virginia Opera Well, oodles of folks have been saying – and singing and...

By Grace Jean - Washington Post   Virginia Opera's cinematic production of Richard Strauss's "Salome" was a passionate tour de force that etched love and death in vivid bas-relief Saturday evening at George Mason University's Center for the Arts. Setting the...

By Roy Proctor Special correspondent In 100 riveting minutes, Virginia Opera is serving up Richard Strauss’ biblically inspired kinkfest “Salome” with all the efficiency its bloodied executioner brings to serving up John the Baptist’s severed head to the willful...