Virginia Opera might be the nation’s hardest-working regional company. It stages four operas annually, with four performances of each one in Norfolk (its headquarters) plus two more in both Fairfax and Richmond—making it the country’s only company to have regular venues in three different cities. And there may be more. Virginia Opera performed Porgy and Bess in Newport News, its first production in the Virginia Peninsula, in 2010. This broad reach is one reason why the company was named The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1994.

Perhaps befitting that status—and a budget of more than $5 million—the company maintains what it claims is the country’s largest education program, serving more than 150,000 Virginians annually. The majority of the programs—such as touring operas, study guides and Family Day at the Opera—are geared toward young people. Operation Opera—unique to Virginia Opera—provides custom-tailored adult-oriented free live presentations and partners with two radio stations to expand its reach even further.

In 2010, artistic director Peter Mark, with the company for more than 35 years, left in a dispute.  The impact of his departure on the company’s productions will be seen in the next few years.