(Photo credit Dave Pearson Photography) During the pandemic, Virginia Opera (VO) made plans to celebrate their fiftieth season, in 2024-25, exploring potential subjects for a commission. In recent talkbacks and receptions, Artistic Director Adam Turner emphasized that the company desired a Virginia-based story for this occasion. Ultimately they settled on that of Richard and Mildred Loving, the appellants in the {…}
After being informed of the termination of a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for its production of “Loving V. Virginia,” Virginia Opera has launched a crowdfunding campaign via GoFundMe to recoup some funds in support of the Virginia Opera Association. The goal of the campaign is raise $6,000 which recently closed out its run in {…}
In 1959, Richard Loving, a white man, and his wife Mildred Loving, a woman of color were convicted of violating the Racial Integrity Act of 1924 in Virginia. They were sentenced to prison by Judge Leon M. Bazile, but the sentence was suspended on the condition that they leave their home state and never return. The Lovings appealed their case {…}
Denyce Graves is set to direct the world premiere production of “Loving v. Virginia” at the Virginia Opera. The opera by Damien Geter and Jessica Murphy Moo will have its big premiere in April 2025 in collaboration with the Richmond Symphony. “It is an honor to be asked to join a team that is developing a project around one of {…}
