Posted: Saturday, March 19, 2016 10:30 pm
From productions rarely seen in this country to beloved opera classics that have entertained the masses for more than a century, Virginia Opera’s 2016-17 repertoire pushes artistic boundaries both in scope and talent.
The season begins in October with a two-for-one double feature that includes a production never before performed by Virginia Opera. Kurt Weill’s “The Seven Deadly Sins” is the tale of Anna, a woman on a cross-country journey to help her poor family, who ultimately encounters all seven deadly sins along the way. Dark and brooding, it’s being paired with Ruggero Leoncavallo’s equally moving “Pagliacci,” a classic operatic production about love, deception and revenge. The
Moving toward the holidays in lighthearted fashion, Virginia Opera returns in November with Gioachino Rossini’s comic production “The Barber of Seville.” One of the most beloved and recognizable operas, it follows the hilarious exploits of the clever barber Figaro, who’s been caught in the midst of a love triangle and has been enlisted to help sort out the mayhem. Richmond performances are Nov. 18 and 20, and will be sung in Italian.
Another first for the Virginia Opera, and a rare showing in the United States, “Der Freischütz” (“The Magic Marksman”) arrives in Richmond just after Valentine’s Day. The haunting drama by Carl Maria von Weber is based on a German folk legend. It delves into the realm of the supernatural as a forester, caught up in forces of darkness, tries to ensure his win during a shooting contest.
“That is a major show in Europe,” but is rarely seen in the United States, said Maggi George, director of statewide marketing for Virginia Opera. She said the performance will be sung in English thanks to a translated rendition specifically commissioned for American audiences and to appeal to younger patrons. Richmond performances will be Feb. 17 and 19.
Rounding out the season next spring is the second installment of Virginia Opera’s Puccini Cycle, a five-year series that highlights the works of renowned Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. “Turandot,” set in China, is a suspense-filled fable about a beautiful princess and the sometimes fatal attempts by suitors to win her hand in marriage. “Turandot” will be sung in Italian. Richmond performances will be March 31 and April 2, 2017.
Virginia Opera’s Richmond performances are Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons at the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Arts Center. Supertitles — song lyrics — will accompany each performance on a screen above the stage.
Season subscriptions are available from $66 to $404. Tickets for individual shows go on sale in the weeks before each performance. For information or subscriptions, visitwww.vaopera.org.
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