Loving v. Virginia opera to premiere in Virginia, three performances in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A new opera celebrating the landmark court case that legalized interracial marriage in the United States will premiere in Virginia in the spring. 8News spoke with its composer to learn more about the performance. On Friday, Jan. 31, 8News Morning Anchor Delaney Hall and Meteorologist Jacqueline Waters spoke with Damien Geter, a composer in residence with the Richmond Symphony, to learn about the world premiere of Loving v. Virginia: The Opera. 8News Morning Anchor Delaney Hall and Meteorologist Jacqueline Waters speaking with Richmond composer Damien Geter on Friday, Jan. 31 to learn about the world premiere of Loving v. Virginia: The Opera. Geter said the opera is about the case of Richard and Mildred Loving, who were an interracial couple who wanted to be married, however at the time, they could not be married in Virginia. "To make a long story short, this case ended up at the Supreme Court -- and the Supreme Court decided that laws banning interracial marriage were actually unconstitutional, and so therefore it should be made legal across the nation," Geter said. FROM 2022: Groundbreaking interracial marriage Supreme Court Case becomes subject of newest Virginia opera Geter said the Loving v. Virginia opera is the fourth opera that he has written. The opera will premiere in Norfolk on Friday, April 25 before it will travel to Richmond and perform at the Carpenter Theatre, located at 600 E. Grace St., on Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11. For more information about the opera or to purchase tickets, visit the opera's website.