RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – In celebration of Black History Month, the Library of Virginia will present two free events in support of Virginia Opera’s world-premiere production of “Loving v. Virginia.” A legal panel discussion on Feb. 26 and a performance on March 5 will be offered in conjunction with the opera’s May 9–11 performances at Dominion Energy Center’s Carpenter Theatre in Richmond.

“Loving v. Virginia” is based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving, a young couple from Central Point, Virginia, who were criminally charged for their interracial marriage in 1958 and forced to leave the state to avoid prison sentences. The Lovings took their case to the Supreme Court and won a landmark victory for Civil Rights in the United States. Co-commissioned by Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony and directed by Denyce Graves, “Loving v. Virginia” features music by Damien Geter and libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo.

“We are proud to partner with Virginia Opera  to present important Black History events in support of this groundbreaking production,” said Librarian of Virginia Dennis T. Clark. “As an opera lover, I’m excited about this combination of art and history that brings attention to a significant part of the Civil Rights story of Virginia and the nation.”

“Virginia Opera is excited to be partnering with such a prestigious institution as the Library of Virginia this season to help promote this world-premiere production and showcase the intersectionality of art and history,” said Karen T. Federing, Virginia Opera's director of civic engagement. “The Library is the perfect venue to encourage audiences to engage in these important conversations about Black history in the state and the nation.”

On Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m., the Library and Virginia Opera will present “The Constitution and ‘Loving v. Virginia,’” a legal panel discussion exploring the origins, challenges and significance of the 1967 Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court ruling that struck down state laws banning marriage between individuals of different races. Danielle Wingfield, assistant professor of law at the University of Richmond, will moderate a discussion with Mary Bauer, executive director of ACLU-VA; Kim Forde-Mazrui, the Mortimer M. Caplin Professor of Law at the University of Virginia; and author Peter Wallenstein, a professor of history at Virginia Tech. A brief Q&A session will follow the discussion. Registration is required at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/13375580.

The Library of Virginia continues its Black History Month celebration on March 5 at 2 p.m. with a performance of “A Loving Community,” an educational touring program commissioned by Virginia Opera featuring music and history relevant to the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Excerpts from the world-premiere opera “Loving v. Virginia,” co-commissioned by the Richmond Symphony, will be performed by Virginia Opera’s four Emerging Artists with piano accompaniment. A set of traveling display panels created by the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia will accompany the production to enhance the understanding of the historical context that led to this significant decision and its impact on the larger 20th- and 21st-century American Civil Rights landscape. Registration is required at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/13801161.

ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA 
The Library of Virginia is the state’s oldest institution dedicated to the preservation of Virginia’s history and culture. Our online offerings attract nearly 4 million website visits per year, and our resources, exhibitions and events bring in nearly 100,000 visitors each year. The Library’s collections, containing more than 130 million items, document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. The Library is located in downtown Richmond near Capitol Square at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Learn more at www.lva.virginia.gov.

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.

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