Ash Lawn Opera Festival in Charlottesville Virginia

Posted by Cindy on November 24, 2009

Of all of the great historic elements that are associated with the state of Virginia, it is easy to forget that it also has an incredible contemporary arts scene. Okay, so it’s not easy to ignore the contemporary culture, though nationally it can sometimes take a backseat to the state’s historical significance, particularly around certain holidays. This is just one of the reasons why many tourists who visit Charlottesville and stay in one of the Virginia best hotels may be interested in finding out about Ash Lawn Opera Festival.

This amazing operatic event was established in 1978 and began with a series of lectures and one act operas that took place over a three evening time period. Today, the festival is enjoying its 31st year and has expanded over the years to become the major event that it is. The festival is fully owned and under the operational management of the College of William and Mary. It includes a collection of operas and musical theatre productions that are performed over a six to eight week period.

There are still great lectures that are included in the festival’s offerings as well as workshops and educational programs. The Music at Twilight and the Summer Saturday series are popular components that have been incorporated into the festival over the years. There is also Kids Fest, which is a great way for the young generation to become familiar with opera and to discover their own appreciation and enjoyment of it. It is also a great time for children to discover a potential interest in performing, and other aspects of opera production. Over one hundred thousand audience members attend the festival each year. This is definitely an event that you will not want to miss if you are planning to visit Charlottesville in the summer. Remember, it is popular, so plan your accommodations early.