For the first time in its 33-year history, Virginia Opera is proud to bring a Russian opera to the stage with its new production of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's heart-rending EUGENE ONEGIN – performances are scheduled between Feb. 8 and March 2 in Norfolk, Fairfax and Richmond, Va.

A full weekend of Russian-themed celebration awaits local arts lovers and supporters at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, featuring “Russian Revelry: A Magical Gala Evening” – Virginia Opera’s only annual fundraiser in Northern Virginia – on Feb. 23, 2008.

An Evening at the Winter Palace, Virginia Opera’s annual fundraising gala, celebrates with a modern twist the opulence and splendor of Imperial Russia at Norfolk’s Marriott Waterside Hotel, starting 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2008 – just two weeks before the curtain lifts for the company’s first Russian opera, Tchaikovsky’s masterful Eugene Onegin.

Virginia Opera's "Student Night at the Opera" returns for its second season with steeply reduced ticket prices for students to all performances of the company's 2007-2008 season operas here at the Landmark Theater, all with strong ties to the Virginia Standards of Learning.

Virginia Opera's 2007-2008 season opens here at the Harrison Opera House Sept. 28 with a production of Jacques Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann, in which a poet tells the fantastical stories of his three great loves and how they ended in misery due to the meddling incarnations of a supernatural villain.

Tenor Dan Snyder, who stars in the title role of Virginia Opera's upcoming production of Tales of Hoffmann, will make a special appearance at Harbor Park at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, to sing The Star-Spangled Banner in commencement of the annual America Supports You Freedom Walk.

The name "Paul Potts" became familiar to people across the globe this past week as videos featuring his operatic performances of "Nessun Dorma" became among the most watched at YouTube.com. The popular aria from Puccini's "Turandot" earned the former mobile telephone salesman victory and worldwide celebrity in the hit British television series, "Britain's Got Talent," hosted by Simon Cowell.

His work has been viewed by millions as the scenery surrounding Oscar award-winning actors like Anthony Hopkins, Hilary Swank, and Geena Davis; but instead of coming from Hollywood, the next artists to give brilliant performances on a set built under the direction of Richmond's Richard Blankenship will be from Virginia Opera.

Virginia Opera has the distinct honor of hosting its "Cruise the World of Opera" gala at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center on April 14, 2007 - the first major special event to be booked at Norfolk's new $36 million facility, which is located downtown next to Nauticus.