WHRO arts and culture reporter Rebecca Weinstein brings you a fresh, exciting take on our vibrant local arts scene. A seasoned writer and classically trained soprano with a commitment to expanding audiences for the arts, she grew up and discovered her love of the performing arts in the Hampton Roads area, studied music at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, and honed her arts writing skills while living and working in the Washington, D.C. area. Rebecca is your friendly, knowledgeable companion for the symphony, the opera, chamber music, and the theater - take your seat and feel the excitement...
Latest episodes
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The Virginia Symphony Orchestra Presents Mahler and Mozart
During the weekend of February 21, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra performed a program of music by Mahler and Mozart conducted by David Danzmayr. Rebecca Evans shares her review.
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Virginia Opera's Cinderella
On January 31, Virginia Opera opened its production of “Cinderella,” a whimsical, heartfelt take on the classic tale with an exuberant score by Rossini. Rebecca Evans shares her re…
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Virginia Stage Company Presents Sense and Sensibility
Virginia Stage Company opened its production of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, an adaptation by Kate Hamill, on January 25. Rebecca Evans shares her review.
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The Feldman Chamber Music Society Presents the Harlem Quartet
On November 18, the Feldman Chamber Music Society presented the Harlem Quartet at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Rebecca Evans shares her review.
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Virginia Opera Presents the Spanish Opera Il Postino
On November 8, Virginia Opera opened its first production in its new “From Screen to Stage” initiative with the Spanish opera Il Postino. Rebecca Evans shares her review of the dre…
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Virginia Symphony Orchestra Presents Brahms, Beethoven, and Caroline Shaw
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra performed music by Brahms, Beethoven, and Caroline Shaw (who also appeared as a soloist) on October 24, 26, and 27 at various venues in Hampton Road…
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Virginia Opera's Season Opener, Puccini's Tosca
On October 4, Virginia Opera opened its new season with a production of Puccini's Tosca.
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Virginia Stage Company’s Season Opener, Guys and Dolls
On September 21, Virginia Stage Company opened its new season with a production of the classic musical Guys and Dolls.
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Virginia Symphony Orchestra's 2019-2020 Season Opener, Rachmaninoff and Ravel
On Friday night, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra launched its 99th season with a program called “Rachmaninoff and Ravel." The occasion also marked conductor and music director JoAn…
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Annual Staunton Music Festival Offers a Fresh Take on Classical Music
Rebecca Evans traveled to Staunton, Virginia for the final weekend of the annual Staunton Music Festival, one of our region’s most accomplished and innovative chamber music festiva…
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Generic Theater's Striking Production of the Musical Chess Is a Testament to the Company's Ambition, C…
Last weekend, Generic Theater opened a striking production of the musical Chess in their space in the black box theater under Chrysler Hall. The show plays until July 21; don’t mis…
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Virginia Arts Festival Winds Down With a Rare Take on Antony and Cleopatra and a Show-Stopping Performance fro…
Last weekend, Virginia Arts Festival presented an interpretation of Shakespeare’s play Antony and Cleopatra at the Ferguson Center and Chrysler Hall, in addition to a show featurin…
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Virginia Arts Festival Presents Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Evocative, Challenging World Premiere of “Passage”
Last weekend, Virginia Arts Festival brought us a world premiere and a weekend of spectacular dance at Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall. Dance Theatre of Harlem was born 50 years ago as the…
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Pianist Olga Kern and a Bach Celebration Kick off the 2019 Virginia Arts Festival
During the weekend of April 12, the 2019 Virginia Arts Festival kicked off with a series of wonderful programs spanning art forms, genres, and time periods, including a Bach Celebr…
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Virginia Opera’s American Dream Makes an Intimate, Moving Close to its Thrilling New Variations Season
On April 6, Virginia Opera presented the final offering of its new Variations season of short, casual, and contemporary opera in English. The chamber opera, called “An American Dre…
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Virginia Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Mozart with Guest Conductor Scott Yoo
During the weekend of March 23, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra performed a Mozart Celebration at venues in Hampton Roads with Guest Conductor Scott Yoo.
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Virginia Ballet Theatre’s Annual Sweetheart Concert Offers an Intriguing Mix of Contemporary and Classical Sty…
Last weekend, our very own Virginia Ballet Theatre brought a taste of extraordinary dance to Norfolk, presenting its annual sweetheart concert at ODU’s University Theatre. The conc…
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Opera in Williamsburg Retells The Diary of Anne Frank in a Brave, Moving One-Woman Show
On Wednesday night, a very unique opera happened at the Williamsburg Regional Library. Opera in Williamsburg teamed up with Opera Piccola of Israel to present a one-woman operatic…
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Virginia Stage Company’s “Fun Home” Makes for a Striking, Melodic, and Fulfilling Journey
Last weekend, Virginia Stage Company opened their production of the musical Fun Home at the Wells Theatre in Downtown Norfolk. Fun Home is based on the best-selling graphic novel b…
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Trio Karénine Shares Timeless Classical Chamber Music at the Chrysler Museum
On January 14, the Feldman Chamber Music Society shared a fun, beautiful evening of classical chamber music in the theater at the Chrysler Museum of Art. The group Trio Karénine pe…