Virginia Opera A Guide to the Virginia Opera Records MG 85

A Guide to the Virginia Opera Records MG 85


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ODU Community Collections

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Mel Frizzell

Repository
ODU Community Collections
Identification
MG 85
Title
Virginia Opera Records 1970-2020, undated Date acquired: 05/09/2006
URL:
Archon Finding Aid location
Quantity
50.9 Linear Feet
Quantity
25 Hollinger document cases, 5 Hollinger half document cases, 4 multimedia boxes, 46 archival notebooks, one record carton, and 3 oversize boxes. boxes
Creator
Virginia Opera Association
Language
English .
Abstract
Consists of Virginia Opera programs, guides, newspaper clippings, magazine articles. Also includes administrative records, correspondence, audio-visual materials, artifacts, and posters.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Virginia Opera Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries..

Source of Acquisition

Eleanor J. Bader

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #A2006-05

Processing Information

The collection was reprocessed by Mel Frizzell, Special Collections and University Archives Assistant, from 2020 to 2021.

Accruals and Additions

Material is added to the collection periodically.


Biographical or Historical Information

Founded in 1974 by Edythe C. Harrison, the Virginia Opera Association was launched with two productions at the Norfolk Center Theater. In 1975, Peter Mark signed on as conductor for the Virginia Opera, a position he held for 35 years. His wife, the Scottish-American composer Thea Musgrave, has composed many of her works for the Virginia Opera. In 1977, the Virginia Opera began performances in Richmond with the encouragement of then-Governor Mills Godwin and Mrs. T. Fleetwood (Anna) Garner who helped form the Richmond Friends of the Opera. By 1983, the Richmond and Central Virginia Board of Virginia Opera was formed and a Richmond office was opened. In November 1992, the Virginia Opera presented its first main stage performance at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax. Today the Opera has an operating budget of $6 million and performs 36 main stage performances yearly in Norfolk, Richmond and Fairfax. Performances reach nearly 50,000 attendees, and there are over 3,000 contributing donors to the Opera. In addition, the Virginia Opera reaches more than 200,000 students and community members yearly through its Education and Community Outreach Programs.

Venues

The Norfolk Center Theater began as a concrete-block structure near the Chrysler museum that originally served as a USO for armed forces personnel during World War II. The Norfolk Center Theater was renovated in 1993 and became the Edythe C. and Stanley L. Harrison Opera House, dedicated to the Virginia Opera's founder and her husband. The Harrison Opera House has 1,632 seats. The Virginia Opera also plays at two other major venues in Virginia: the historical Landmark Theater in Richmond and the George Mason University Center for the Arts. The Landmark Theater, formerly known as the Mosque, was the Acca Temple Shrine in 1926 until it was bought by the City of Richmond in the 1940s. In the early 1990s it was transformed into the theater it is today. The George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax is located on the George Mason campus, and also offers ballet and music concerts.

The Virginia Opera Guild

The Virginia Opera Guild plays a supporting role to the Virginia Opera. Members share an appreciation for opera, attend social events that provide insight into opera productions, and sponsor fundraising events that benefit Virginia Opera programs.

Education and Outreach

The Virginia School System has joined up with the Virginia Opera Association to bring educational value to the opera. Each year thousands of students visit opera houses across Virginia to be entertained as well as educated. Virginia Opera Educational Outreach Programs bring opera into the community by offering free admission to people less fortunate or setting up small operas in the community. These programs reach more than 200,000 students and community members each year.

Programs include an In-School Touring Program that brings opera programs to schools and communities throughout the year; Student Night at the Opera offering discounted tickets to students on special nights and Student Matinee's that allow students to attend matinee performances at an affordable price; and Operation Opera offering free presentations to community venues throughout Virginia.

Also offered are age-appropriate study guides created to correlate with the Virginia Standards of Learning. These guides include background information, student worksheets, library activities that encourage educators to incorporate the arts into existing curriculum.

The Virginia Opera Docents serve as speakers to schools and community organizations as part of the Education and Outreach Program. These volunteers share their knowledge and insight about the opera providing free programs on a first-come-first-served basis.

Note written by Mel Frizzell, Special Collections and University Archives Assistant.

Scope and Contents

The bulk of this collection includes the records of the Virginia Opera Association, the Virginia Opera Guild, the Virginia Opera Docents, and information on the Harrison Opera House. The Friends of Virginia Opera and a split off group called Lyric Opera Virginia are also represented. Material in the collection includes administrative records, budgets, and correspondence; season programs and marketing materials; news articles and newsletters; membership information; educational materials; multimedia including video tapes, cassette tapes, compact discs, and record albums; photographs; and artifacts.

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into ten series: Series I: Virginia Opera Association; Series II: Virginia Opera Guild; Series III: Virginia Opera Docents; Series IV: Harrison Opera House; Series V: Personalities; Series VI: Related Organization; Series VII: Miscellaneous; Series VIII: Multimedia; Series IX: Artifacts; and Series X: Opera Production Books.

Related Material

Virginia Symphony Orchestra Records (MG 81-A).

Subjects and Indexing Terms


Container List

Series I
Series I: Virginia Opera Association
1974-2020, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains materials related to the Virginia Opera Association. The series is further broken into the following sub-series: Sub-Series A: Business; Sub-Series B: Programs and Marketing; Sub-Series C: Events; Sub-Series D: Newspaper Clippings; Sub-Series E. Magazine Articles; Sub-Series F: Press Releases; Sub-Series G: Newsletters; and Sub-Series H: Notebooks.

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Series II
Series II: Virginia Opera Guild
1981-2021, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains materials related to the Virginia Opera Guild. The series is further broken into the following sub-series: Sub-Series A: Business; Sub-Series B: Events; Sub-Series C: Committees; Sub-Series D: Membership; Sub-Series E: Newsletters; Sub-Series F: Miscellaneous; and Sub-Series G: Notebooks and Scrapbooks.

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Series III
Series III: Virginia Opera Docents
circa 1979-2012, undated
Scope and Contents

This series is broken into five sub-series: Sub-Series A: Business; Sub-Series B: Membership; Sub-Series C: News Documents and Newsletters; Sub-Series D; Guides; and Sub-Series E. Docent Educational Materials.

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Series IV
Series IV: Harrison Opera House
1990-1994, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains material related to the renovation of the Center Theater into the Harrison Opera House. Included are the renovation plan and building specifications; news releases, clippings, and magazine articles related to the Harrison Opera House; a history of the Norfolk Center Theater; and the Grand Opening program from November 1993. Material is arranged alphabetically.

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Series V
Series V: Opera Personalities
undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains biographical information about Virginia Opera personalities. Material is arranged alphabetically by the individual's last name.

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Series VI
Series VI: Related Organizations
1940-2013, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains information about organizations related to the Virginia Opera. Included are the Friends of the Virginia Opera and Lyric Opera Virginia. Lyric Opera Virginia is a splinter group of the Virginia Opera formed after the termination of Peter Mark in 2010. Material is arranged alphabetically.

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Series VII
Series VII: Miscellaneous
1990-2013, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains material that do not fit into other series. Included are recipe cards, notes, and other miscellaneous material. Material is arranged alphabetically.

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Series VIII
Series VIII: Multimedia
1980-2009, undated
Scope and Contents

This series is broken down into five sub-series: Sub-Series A: Photographs; Sub-Series B: Videotapes; Sub-Series C: Audiocassette Tapes; Sub-Series D: Compact Discs and DVDs; and Sub-Series E: Record Albums.

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Series IX
Series IX: Artifacts
1981-2011, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains artifacts relating to the Virginia Opera. Included are promotional pins, bumper stickers, t-shirts, key chains, Virginia Opera posters, and a folder of oversize newspaper articles.

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Series X
Series X: Opera Production Books
1999-2018
Scope and Contents

This series contains Virginia Opera production books, also known as "Wig and Makeup Bibles." These books contain material related to all aspects of each opera production. These include sketches related to props and costuming; wardrobe lists; rehearsal reports; production notes; cast lists; calendars; and other material. The production books are arranged chronologically by season.

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