The Arts in Metro Richmond

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Choreographer Colin Connor's new work titled "Always, at the Edge of Never" premiered Thursday at Richmond Ballet's StudioTheatre on Canal and 5th Streets in downtown Richmond..

The Richmond company grows in reputation and accomplishments with each season.

Here is a review by Julinda Lewis of the current program which will continue through November 14th.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...al06-ar-634687/

Click the website for performance times and ticket availability:

http://www.richmondb..._11_Season.aspx

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The Virginia Opera has its home base in Norfolk and mounts its productions at The Harrison Opera House in that city. But it has a big presence, artistically and financially, at Richmond CenterStage.

A recent dust up has resulted in plans to replace Peter Mark as Virginia Opera's artistic director. The opera's Board of Directors has called in a heavyweight to advise it during the transition. His name is Robin Thompson (not to be confused with the Virginia singer and musician Robbin Thompson.)

Mr. Thompson has been a producing artistic director of New York City Opera and the artistic administrator with The Los Angeles Opera.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...er24-ar-673460/

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As VMFA prepares for its gigantic Picasso exhibit in February a treasure trove of the artist's works has been uncovered in a garage on the French Riviera.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/arts-literature/2010/nov/29/4/pablogat29-ar-682317/

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The Arts include not only museum exhibits, ballet, synphony orchestras and opera. Good old American musical comedy enjoys a nitche in the arts as well.

Irving Berlin's songs are bringing droves of people to The Empire Theatre in downtown Richmond to enjoy a first-class production of WHITE CHRISTMAS.

Here's a rave review of the musical by Susan Howson of RVANews:

http://rvanews.com/f...barksdale/34633

Barksdale Theatre has three operations in Metro Richmond -- its original 200-seat site at Hanover Courthouse in a historic stage coach tavern dating from 1736; at Willow Lawn Shopping Center in a modern 220-seat thrust stage complex, and at the 600-seat Empire which is a proscenium stage theatre in downtown Richmond built in 1911.

WHITE CHRISTMAS is playing in The Empire Theatre until January 9th and tickets are selling fast.

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Alastair MacCaulay, on assignment from The New York Times, traveled across the country over the holiday season seeking the perfect NUTCRACKER production and found it at The Carpenter Theatre in downtown Richmond.

MacCaulay writes:

"Three of the productions -- at Ballet West, Ballet Arizona and Richmond Ballet -- were the best discoveries of my tour. Stoner Winslett's staging for Richmond Ballet was so satisfying all around -- above all, in the scale of The Carpenter Theatre in relation to The Richmond Symphony Orchestra -- that I found an ideal version of America in which every State in the Union has at least one local production that's this perfect, but I want each of those perfect stagings to be individually different."

Here is the entire review as reprinted in the current Style Weekly:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/03/arts/dance/03nutcracker.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

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Alastair MacCaulay, on assignment from The New York Times, traveled across the country over the holiday season seeking the perfect NUTCRACKER production and found it at The Carpenter Theatre in downtown Richmond.

MacCaulay writes:

"Three of the productions -- at Ballet West, Ballet Arizona and Richmond Ballet -- were the best discoveries of my tour. Stoner Winslett's staging for Richmond Ballet was so satisfying all around -- above all, in the scale of The Carpenter Theatre in relation to The Richmond Symphony Orchestra -- that I found an ideal version of America in which every State in the Union has at least one local production that's this perfect, but I want each of those perfect stagings to be individually different."

Here is the entire review as reprinted in the current Style Weekly:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/03/arts/dance/03nutcracker.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

I heard about this review while listening to Bill Bevins and Shelly Perkins on Lite 98 one morning (does that make me and honorary Richmonder, now? ). I must say, despite the fact that I am not a big fan of ballet and have never watched one (aside from my little sister in her younger days) I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear to hear Richmond Ballet and Symphony Orchestra held in such high esteem.

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Peter Mark who recently was ousted as artistic director of Norfolk-based Virginia Opera will launch Lyric Opera Virginia in Richmond next year.

LOV's two annual productions will feature a shorter length opera and a musical comedy.

Presumably, they will be staged at Richmond CenterStage's Carpenter Theatre.

Breaking news from today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ra-c-ar-763350/

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Here is an updated story out of Virginia Beach about the new and lean Lyric Opera Virginia proposed by Peter Mark, former artistic director of The Virginia Opera Company.

Mark and his cohorts plan to mount "La Traviata", a condensed 'Carmen" and the Rogers/Hammerstein musical "The King and I" on Richmond stages under tight budget restraints.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...pany-ar-763905/

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Not surprisingly, a Washington Post story is considerably more detailed than the Times Dispatch release announcing the formation of Peter Mark's Lyric Opera Virginia.

In addition to performances at two Richmond theatres (The Landmark with 3600 seats and The Carpenter with 1800 seats) the company also hopes to perform at the 1200-seat Sandler Center in Virginia Beach, at the Christopher Newport Art Center (Fergusson Theatre?) in Newport News with about 1700 seats as well as in an unnamed location in Northern Virginia.

From yesterday's Washington Post:

http://www.washingto...1010904495.html

Edythe Harrison, founder of the original Virginia Opera Company, is a strong supporter of Peter Mark. In fact, the flagship theatre of Virginia Opera in Norfolk was a city owned facility before it was renovated and renamed as The Harrison Opera House with a capacity of about 1800.

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The upcoming Picasso exhibition from Musee National Picasso in Paris opening February 19th at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a major artistic and economic event for Richmond. To stress that point, I am posting the website in this thread as well as in the one titled "Museum Developments in Richmond."

The exhibition is likely to bring in patrons by the hundreds of thousands from across North America. Tickets are essential.

http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/Picasso/

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The Picasso exhibition opens at VMFA in less than 2 weeks. Official opening for the public is on Saturday, February 19th.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/rtd-entertainment/2011/feb/06/tdflair01-landmark-picasso-exhibit-coming-to-richm-ar-816232/

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Richmond is gearing up for the Picasso collection from Musee National Picasso in Paris which debuts at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Saturday, February 19th after a few pre-opening galas.

Richmond is the fifth city on the prestigeous International tour, and the only stop on America's east coast. Following the VMFA on May 15th, the exhibit will travel west to San Francisco and then even further west to Sydney before returning to Paris.

From Ed Slipek in the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=9B6FFC446FF7486981EA3C0C3CCE4943&nm=Articles%2FArchives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=E28DE0AB518C478088A6BB20F1F65968

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The Richmond Jazz Society has a more active program than many may suspect.

When Richmond Center Stage was nearing completion it was my understanding that one of its venues, Rhythm Hall, would be the site of jazz concerts. However, I've read that architectural flaws prevented its use when there were performances a floor above in the supposed "floating" Gottwald Playhouse. Thus venues such as The Capital Ale Music Hall downtown on East Main Street and the ballroom of The Hilton Garden Inn in the old Miller & Rhoads have hosted a number of sold-out jazz concerts.

Perhaps The Hippodrome, which will open this spring on North 2nd Street, will be another friendly host for the Jazz Society.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=181025868600438&set=a.164857830217242.27460.164857736883918

Here is the RJS website:

http://www.vajazz.org/

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F. T. Rae, writing in Richmond dot com, reveals how Richmond was one of only three US cities to land the Picasso Collection show.

The newly enlarged World-Class VMFA facility is the principal reason.

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2011/feb/18/picassos-richmond-period-ar-852666/

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F. T. Rae, writing in Richmond dot com, reveals how Richmond was one of only three US cities to land the Picasso Collection show.

The newly enlarged World-Class VMFA facility is the principal reason.

http://www2.richmond...riod-ar-852666/

Several years ago when Phillip Morris announced it was moving its headquarters from Park Avenue and 41st Street to Richmond, a huge hue and cry of protest went up in New York's art circles. Whilst PM's tobacco products were looked upon with disdain, the company's contributions to the arts were larger than those from any other corporation.

After the move, Phlilip Morris USA split from Phillip Morris International, which headquartered in Europe. Subsequently, the Richmond based company changed its name to Altria.

Richmond's artistic community now benefits from Altria's largesse in a huge way.

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Former Richmonder, Frank Raysor, donates his entire print collection to VMFA.

From writer Roy Proctor in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/2011/mar/27/tdarts01-print-donation-to-vmfa-called-an-amazing--ar-923681/

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Only two weeks remain to enjoy the Picasso exhibit at VMFA before it moves on to San Francisco in mid-May.

The next major exhibit at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will open on July 9th and be on view until October 2nd, 2011. It is called FABERGE REVEALED (excuse my inability to add the accent above the final "e" in Faberge.)

The VMFA owns five Russian Imperial Easter eggs and they will be on view as well as more than 500 pieces by the jeweler to the Russian Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II.

It will be the largest collection of Faberge on public view in the United States.

After fielding countless complaints over the Picasso ticketing system, one can hope that the Museum will have improved the means by which visitors can gain admittance to the Faberge exhibit.

From West of the Boulevard News:

http://wotbn.net/vmfa-to-host-argest-collection-of-faberge-in-the-u-s/

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The highly rated Richmond Ballet performs three times yearly in the large Carpenter Theatre with elaborate sets and accompaniment by The Richmond Symphony Orchestra. In its own Studio Theatre at 5th and Canal Streets, the company also presents four programs annually for two-week runs.

Here is a Richmond Times Dispatch review of the current and final program of the season:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/flair/2011/apr/30/TDHOME05-studio-4-stuns-with-two-ballet-works-ar-1006431/

http://www.richmondballet.com

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The Picasso exhibit, now in its final week at VMFA, has been drawing an average of 14,000 to 15,000 visitors each week and totals about 189,000 as of last Wednesday. It will top the anticipated figure of 200,000 before moving on to San Francisco, but it could (and should) have done considerably better if a more professional ticketing system had been in place.

According to Art writer Roy Proctor:

"Picasso, which benefited from a $500,000 advertising budget that included a full-page ad in The New York Times, overwhelmed VMFA's ability to dispense tickets, frustrating many would be attendees."

On the upbeat, Proctor discusses future exhibits.

#1. FABERGE REVEALED will highlight 514 objects from July 9th through October 12th, 2011.

#2. MUMMY: SECRETS OF THE TOMB will open December 23rd and run through March 16th, 2012.

And negotiations are underway to mount an exhibition of VMFA's collection in Beijing's Palace Museum and to import TREASURES FROM THE FORBIDDEN CITY to Richmond in 2014.

From yesterday's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...hib-ar-1000643/

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The VMFA just 'tweeted' that total Picasso exhibit attendance was ~229,796.

Over 26,000 visitors between Thursday and Sunday alone.

I think we can call that a success.

I expect there will be a news story about it tomorrow or in the very near future.

[burt]

The VMFA just 'tweeted' that total Picasso exhibit attendance was ~229,796.

Over 26,000 visitors between Thursday and Sunday alone.

I think we can call that a success.

I expect there will be a news story about it tomorrow or in the very near future.

Also, it was officially announced in today's RTD that an exhibit from the Palace Museum in Beijing will open at VMFA in the summer of 2014.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2011/may/15/tdmet01-vmfa-to-host-art-from-beijings-palace-muse-ar-1039875/.

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I suppose many of you have surmised that I value The Richmond Ballet as the most professional performance group in town. If so, you are correct.

The upcoming 2011-12 season will include a tribute to Igor Antonov, a dancer from The Ukrain who is retiring after 20 years with the company. It will also offer several ballets at its charming Studio Theatre including Balenchine's LEIBESLIDER WALTZER. At the Carpenter Theatre, it will stage its highly praised NUTCRACKER as well as performancees of COPPELIA.

And, for the first alliance with Virginia Opera it will enhance the operatic company's Richmond performances of AIDA.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...-up-ar-1079248/

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The FABERGE REVEALED exhibit opens at VMFA on July 9th.

http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/Press_Room/Exhibitions/Fabergé_Revealed.aspx

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I'm not clear about the objectives of i.e.*, but if its intention is to further promote the arts and Richmond talent, I'm all for it.

A sort of annual October 3-week long Spoleto Festival combining performing and still arts could draw many visitors to the region IF a roster of name performers and artists were recruited as headliners for some of the events. It could tie in the National Folk Festival, The Richmond Symphony, Richmond Ballet, Theatre IV, Virginia Opera, popular concerts at various venues, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the new Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU as welll as local galleries.

Performance halls, if properly coordinated, could include The Richmond Coliseum, The Landmark, Carpenter, Empire, VCU's Singleton Center, VMFA's Leslie Cheek, UR's concert hall and Jepson Theatres. Also, The National, Hat Factory, Canal Club and smaller spaces such as The Gottwald, Fire House, Richmond Ballet's Studio and Barksdale Theatres could be utilized.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...bed-ar-1119347/

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About 200 gathered yesterday at La Difference on 14th Street to listen to speakers discourse on the aims of i.e.* (see above posting.)

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2011/jun/24/tdbiz01-touting-richmond-as-a-capital-of-creativit-ar-1129903/