Virginia Opera announces 2021 season, including virtual and in-person performances

Music is in the air. At least, it will be.

The Virginia Opera announced its 2021 season performance this week, a lineup that includes virtual and in-person performances in the coming months.

“Making music is our passion and we are thrilled to announce our spring season,” General Director and CEO Peggy Kriha Dye said in a news release. “We are excited about new collaborations, bold plans, and to welcome talented singers to our communities. As always, all of this activity will happen with the safety of our artists and patrons at the forefront of our planning.”

The upcoming season will include an eight-week long masterclass series featuring mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves. Digital episodes of the masterclass will premiere each Wednesday, starting this week. The class is available to current subscribers and donors.

Virginia Opera will perform Leonard Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti,” a one-act opera set in 1950s suburbia about a young married couple struggling to prioritize their relationship. Limited live performances will be presented in Richmond at Dogwood Dell on May 1 and in Norfolk, co-presented with the Virginia Arts Festival on May 7 and 8 at the outdoor Bank Street Stage.

“Trouble in Tahiti” features members of the company’s Emerging Artists Program, including soprano Symone Harcum, baritone Nicholas Martorano, and bass-baritone Eric McConnell. Making their Virginia Opera debut are mezzo-soprano Marissa Simmon and tenor Andrew Turner.

Virginia Opera also will host a virtual Spring Gala, a fully-digital fundraising event for the benefit of the organization.

Virtually Amazing Opera, the Opera’s new digital learning platform, will launch with “The Princess and the Pea.” The educational programs aim to present arts-based educational content through easily accessible venues, free of charge.

Educators can opt-in to Virtually Amazing Opera at vaopera.org/learn to receive supplementary content over the year. Future features in the educational program include a full staged digital production of John Davies’ “Pinocchio” as well as bite-sized brain breaks.

More information about the 2021 spring season can be found online at vaopera.org.

Amy Poulter, 757-446-2705, amy.poulter@pilotonline.com