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### Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony Announce New Opera on Loving v. Virginia

The Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony have announced a groundbreaking new opera centered on the historic United States Supreme Court case, Loving v. Virginia. This operatic retelling will premiere as part of Virginia Opera’s 50th Anniversary Season in 2025. The opera will be composed by Damien Geter with a libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo.

**Event Highlights:**
- **Premiere Date:** 2025
- **Venues:** Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, Dominion Energy Center in Richmond, and Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax.
- **Composer:** Damien Geter
- **Librettist:** Jessica Murphy Moo

**Background:**
Loving v. Virginia was a landmark civil rights decision by the United States Supreme Court, which invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage. The case was brought by Mildred and Richard Loving, who were sentenced to prison in 1958 for marrying each other, a union that was illegal in Virginia due to the Racial Integrity Act of 1924. Their conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1967, a decision that has had lasting impacts on civil rights and was cited in the 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage.

**Statements from Key Figures:**
- **Damien Geter, Composer:** Emphasized the personal significance of the case and the importance of telling the Lovings' story to honor their legacy and advance the art form.
- **Jessica Murphy Moo, Librettist:** Highlighted the inspirational nature of the Lovings' story and its relevance to themes of equality, home, and love in opera.
- **Adam Turner, Artistic Director of Virginia Opera:** Expressed excitement about featuring a Virginia story and a Virginia composer for the 50th Anniversary.
- **Peggy Kriha Dye, General Director and CEO of Virginia Opera:** Spoke about the opera's role in promoting equality and the collaboration with Richmond Symphony and the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU.
- **Lacey Huszcza, Executive Director of Richmond Symphony:** Stressed the importance of the Lovings' story for equality and social justice, and the alignment of missions between the Symphony and Virginia Opera.

**Development and Support:**
The project will be supported by a series of workshops starting in November 2022, focusing on the libretto, vocal writing, orchestral score, and production design. Early support has been received from OPERA America’s 2022 Repertoire Development Grant, with additional funding from corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Individuals can support the project by joining the Commissioning Club, which offers special access to workshops and the creative team.

**Contact Information:**
- **Virginia Opera:** Amanda J. Ely, Director of Marketing, amanda.ely@vaopera.org, 757-627-9545 ext. 3322
- **Richmond Symphony:** Sara Hunt, Public Relations, sarahuntpr@gmail.com

This new opera aims to celebrate the Lovings' contribution to racial justice and ensure their story resonates with future generations.

EPSG:4326

Loving v. Virginia

George Mason University

Dominion Energy Center

Harrison Opera House

A showcase of six twenty-minute scenes from operas-in-development by the current composers and librettists in The American Opera Project’s “Composers & the Voice” Fellowship Training Program.

Baritone

Phillip Bullock

Events

Past events

Apr 25 - May 11, 2025

Loving v. Virginia · Virginia Opera

8 - 10 Jan, 2023

Composers & the Voice: SIX SCENES · American Opera Projects

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