“Beethoven tells you what it's like to be Beethoven and Mozart tells you what it's like to be human. Bach tells you what it's like to be the universe.” ~ Douglas Adams
While we have no Beethoven, Mozart or Bach this week, there is plenty of music to celebrate spring. From Carnival of the Animals to Haitian cello, from opera to evensong to love stories – there are opportunities all week to immerse yourself in the heady sounds of the season. Also on tap this week, you’ll find dance, history and a real, live astronaut. Check out all the amazing RVA arts & culture below!
To list your events on Artsline, go to vpm.org/artsline.
1. LEYLA MCCALLA
Music
Wednesday, April 12, 7:30 PM
Modlin Center for the Arts, 435 Westhampton Way, Richmond, 23173
$35 Adult | $30 Senior | Student/Youth $10
Cellist Leyla McCalla draws on her Haitian heritage, the traditions of her New Orleans home (where she cut her teeth playing on the streets of the French Quarter), and a wealth of classical and folk vocabulary to create engaging, innovative, socially aware music. Pop Matters praises “McCalla’s fluency with varying musical genres ranging from R&B to traditional Haitian, rock ‘n’ roll to Calypso, and Cajun dancehall to zydeco.” McCalla is an Artist-In-Residence with the Department of Music at the University of Richmond. Presented by Modlin Center for the Arts. Purchase tickets online.
2. L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA (THE CORONATION OF POPPEA)
Opera
Wednesday, April 12, 8 PM
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, 147 WARSAW AVENUE, HARRISONBURG, 22807
$23 adults | $14 students
Considered one of the greatest operas of the 17th century, The Coronation of Poppea is Monteverdi’s final masterpiece. Composed in 1642, the Italian opera uses elegantly-crafted music of the Baroque era to paint a portrait of human beings wrestling with the demands of lust, honor, power and rank. Sung in Italian with English subtitles. Presented by JMU’s Forbes Center for the Performing Arts. Purchase tickets online.
3. TREASON TRIAL OF AARON BURR COURT END TOUR
History
Friday, April 14, 3 PM
Saturday, April 15, 10 AM & 2 PM
The John Marshall House, 818 East Marshall Street Richmond, 23219
$25
Looking for more Hamilton-adjacent content? Join The Valentine for a deep dive into one of America’s first great legal spectacles, the treason trial of Aaron Burr! The 1807 Burr trial placed Richmond in the national spotlight as Americans tuned in to see how Chief Justice John Marshall would decide the fate of former Vice President Aaron Burr. Tour Preservation Virginia’s John Marshall House and the Valentine’s Wickham House as you hear about the alleged Burr conspiracy, the political stakes of the trial and the big personalities in Richmond’s legal landscape. Purchase tickets online.
4. CHASING SPACE: A VIRGINIA ASTRONAUT'S JOURNEY
History
Saturday, April 15, 3 PM
Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 North Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, 23220
$10 adults | $8 seniors, military, educators | $5 youth 6-17 | Free for age 5 & under
Join the Virginia Museum of History & Culture for an afternoon conversation with Virginia astronaut, Leland Melvin, who will share the inspirational story of grit, grace, and second chances that led him to space. Lynchburg native, a graduate of the University of Richmond, and the only person in history to catch a pass in the National Football League and in space, Melvin will discuss his personal journey through the pages of the book Chasing Space. Tickets include day-of-program access to the VMHC to experience the museum’s newest exhibition, Apollo: When We Went to the Moon. This program is appropriate for all ages. Purchase tickets online.
5. THE RICHMOND FRINGE FESTIVAL
Music, Puppetry, Gaming, Visual Art
Saturday, April 15 – Monday, April 17
Various locations – see full schedule
Prices vary
This culture & arts event is a boutique sized, multi-vector, curated, profit sharing festival aiming to cross pollinate people in Richmond. It is shepherded by the local creative haus, Spectacle & Mirth. This festival includes the many unique but often silo’d weirdo cultures of Richmond. The Richmond Fringe Festival offers alternate reality gaming adventures, puppet shows, cabarets, immersive musical concerts, public art and mural projects, and their micro venue: The Kettle Yurt! Purchase tickets online.
6. VICTORIA TO PRINCE HARRY: ROYAL FAMILY WARS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES
History
Saturday, April 15, 2 PM
Goochland Branch Public Library, 3075 River Road West, Goochland, 23063
For ages 18 & up
Royal watchers or not, few can ignore how Prince Harry's $120 million film and book revelations have put him at odds with England's royal family. The Windsors are no strangers to wrangles among heirs, struggles over divorce, and the financial strain among all aristocrats to maintain ancient family homes. Join Dr. Nancy Parrish for a compelling illustrated talk about how the twentieth-century foreground of family competitions, divorce, and aristocratic living have roiled England in the modern age. Refreshments provided by the Friends of the Goochland Library. For ages 18 & up. No registration required for this free event.
7. HAND IN GLOVE: TOGETHER WE ARE MORE
Music, Comedy
Saturday, April 15, 6 PM
Robinson Theater Community Arts Center, 2903 Q Street, Richmond, 23223
$35
Do you enjoy a good love story, jazz and r&b? Well this is a night packed with all three plus some yummy eats. The evening will kick-off with a brief performance from award-winning comedian Micah "Bam Bamm" White. Following there will be heavy hors d'oeuvres and then the highlight of the evening where you will experience the soulful voices of music-duo Hand In Glove (husband and wife team: Stafford & Nichole). They will be performing Live Music with The Grad School Band while re-enacting the very unique and inspirational love story of how they met. Purchase tickets online.
8. OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION AT RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Visual Arts
Friday, April 14, 6:30 PM Reception
Main Branch, Richmond Public Library, 101 East Franklin St., Richmond, 23219
The Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch offers an opening night reception for four new exhibits: Deux Mois en France, a mix media show about discovering a new way of looking by Richmond artist Michael McDonagh; Near and Far, a collection of photos highlighting some of the unique details, architectural and otherwise, discovered by Richmond photographer Mark E. Breen in his travels around the country and abroad; Contrast and Collaboration - Series lll, #1, a premiere a new collaborative series of abstract expressionistic photo montage, fine art photography, and works on paper from John E. Moon, Matthias K. Miller, Will Grace; and People, Places and Creatures, an exhibit of watercolors from Cyane Lowden. Live music provided by Michael Hawkins, jazz flautist. No registration required for this free event.
9. CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Music, Dance
Wednesday, April 12, 9:45 AM and 11:30 AM
Thursday, April 13, 11:30 AM
Dominion Energy Center’s Carpenter Theatre, 600 East Grace Street, Richmond, 23219
$4 - $6
Richmond Symphony’s traditional 40-minute introduction to instruments of the orchestra for elementary school students this year includes Camille Saint-Saëns’ beloved Carnival of the Animals in a performance featuring the young dancers of the School of Richmond Ballet. Meet birds, elephants, pianists, donkeys, kangaroos, and more in this thrilling performance for young listeners. Purchase tickets for each of the three performances as the links above.
10. CHORAL EVENSONG
Music
Thursday, April 13, 7 PM
Union Presbyterian Seminary, 3401 Brook Road, Richmond, 23227
During the service of sung evening prayer, the Union Presbyterian Seminary choir will sing an anthem by William Harris, the beloved Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Herbert Brewer. Guest clinician and conductor for this service is Dr. Robert Lehman, visiting director of music at Christ Church Cranbook, an Episcopal church in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Dr. Lehman composed responses specifically for this serene choral evensong. He also has served on the music staffs of Washington National Cathedral and Christ Church New Haven. Doug Brown, Union’s director of music, will accompany the choir from the seminary’s pipe organ in Watts Chapel. No reservation required for this free event.
If you are an arts or cultural organization with lectures, exhibitions, performances, or even book readings, submit your events to Artsline here.
If you are an artist or an arts or cultural organization in need of resources and tools, check out the list of local and national resources from Richmond CultureWorks.
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, Modlin Center for the Arts and Richmond Ballet are sponsors of VPM.