An Innovative Production of Wagner’s Das Rheingold at Topgolf Virginia Beach & Richmond coming in September
Words and Images courtesy of Virginia Opera.
Coming September 12 to Virginia Beach and September 19 to Richmond, Virginia Opera’s never-before-seen
outdoor production of Das Rheingold will be performed at a delightfully surprising venue, Topgolf.
Why Topgolf?
“The myriad of restrictions surrounding COVID forced us to begin thinking out-of-the-box,” said Peggy Kriha Dye, General Director and CEO of Virginia Opera. “Back in our early planning stages for this production, we still weren’t seeing a well-defined end to mandated restrictions and realized we had to consider new ways to safely open up performances to our loyal audiences. We knew it was important to do whatever we could to make public performances possible again—because, really, what is life without the arts?” she added with a laugh. “After numerous brainstorming sessions, we were driving down the highway when we spotted
the facility’s huge nets and it hit us! Why not Topgolf!? It was the perfect outdoor venue choice—covered from the elements, comfortable seating, easy parking, accessible, serving delicious food and drinks, and their monitors in every bay even allow for the broadcasting of English surtitles. In so many ways it resembles the classic amphitheaters where many performing arts found their start. Topgolf was the perfect venue to address so many concerns. Fortunately, they were quick to pick up on our dream and have been delightfully accommodating.”
“If there was one silver lining to the ‘new normal’ COVID placed upon us, it motivated us to create new, and
often surprisingly wonderful, ways to approach everything—including this unique venture,” said Adam Turner,
Artistic Director of Virginia Opera. “I’m so pleased we are able to once again share the magic of music with
our devoted audiences in a safe, comfortable, and unparalleled fashion.”
Innovative production in an unexpected venue. This newly conceived production of the first installment of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, includes all the magic and power of Wagner’s epic vision, including gods, dwarves, giants, and the iconic castle Valhalla.
DAS RHEINGOLD
Richard Wagner—Sung in German with English Surtitles
Performed outdoors exclusively at TOPGOLF
Virginia Beach Topgolf September 12, 2021 at 4:30 PM and 8:00 PM
Richmond on Topgolf September 19, 2021 at 4:30 PM (sold out) and 8:00 PM
Conducted by Adam Turner, Directed by Mary Birnbaum, and Costume Design by Sara Jean Tosetti. Sung in
German with English Surtitles. Adaptation of The Rhinegold by Jonathan Dove and Graham Vick, orchestration
by Jonathan Dove, by arrangement with Birmingham Opera Company. The orchestra for this production is
provided by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
For more information and to obtain tickets, go to VAOpera.org.
ABOUT VIRGINIA OPERA
Virginia Opera, the official opera company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is one of the finest regional opera companies in the nation and is the only company to perform regularly in three separate main stage venues: the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center in Richmond, and Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax. Organized in 1974, Virginia Opera is respected nationwide for the identification and presentation of the finest young artists, for the musical and dramatic integrity of its productions, and for the ingenuity and variety of its education and outreach programs.