Virginia Arts Festival now sharing past performances
In a world without the coronavirus, the Virginia Arts Festival would have opened a week ago with the Hong Kong Ballet performing “Alice (in Wonderland).”
It had taken a few years to snag the touring ballet company for the festival, executive director Robert W. Cross said, but there was no payoff for the VAF staff ’s hard work. No dazzling ballet for local arts patrons. No chance for scores of young local dancers to work with world-class professionals.
Instead, the festival’s events have been canceled or postponed,
so Cross has turned to organizing local broadcasts and social media events to share great performances from the past during the time that this year’s great performances would have taken place.
“We wanted to do this for the community that has supported us for so long,” Cross said.
WHRO TV will broadcast past performances in April and May, including the 2016 Virginia International Tattoo, with its salute to Vietnam Veterans; “Dancing on the Shoulders of Giants,” a documentary on the creation of two world premiere ballets commissioned by the VAF; “Rappahannock County,” a 2011 piece that commemorates the sesquicentennial of the Civil War; and a WHRO Curate episode: “Bernstein at 100.”
At the same time, WHRO FM will re-broadcast performances by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, led by maestro JoAnn Falletta, pianist Olga Kern, the Jupiter String Quartet and many others. The music will be featured on the radio station’s “Sunday Classics,” 4-7 p.m. Sundays; “A Local Touch,” 9 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays; and “Evening Classics,” 9 p.m. to midnight Thursdays.
On Saturday, a weeklong virtual celebration of the Tattoo begins, and will include special WHRO TV broadcasts. Check @VaArtsFest on Facebook and Instagram for new content and watch party information.
The VAF has also created genre-based Spotify playlists. A search for “Virginia Arts Festival” will bring classical music playlists, the “Folk, Roots & Americana” playlist with artists like Chris Thile and Rhiannon Giddens, and recordings of past performances.
The VAF website, vafest.org, has information on the archived performances, including listings for broadcasts and links to experience them digitally. Staffers are updating the VAF social media sites — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube — with performances, interviews, trivia, games and virtual classes. A weekly newsletter highlights festival artists’ social media content, initiatives and happenings. To subscribe, visit vafest.org and click “My Account.”
Three local craft brewers created special beers in honor of the 24th season, and they are real and ready.
Wasserhund Brewing of Virginia Beach is selling four-packs of “Beethoven Honey Hefeweizen,” which can be ordered online at wasserhundbrewing.com, and for delivery for those who don’t wish to go to its Hilltop brewpub.
The Bold Mariner Brewing Company created “Audace” as the Norfolk NATO Festival’s specialty beer. It is being sold for curbside pick-up while supplies last at The Bold Mariner Brewing Company in Norfolk, boldmariner.com.
Finally, Rip Rap Brewing of Norfolk, riprapbrewing.com, worked with the festival for the Virginia International Tattoo, which planned to honor the 75th Anniversary of the end of WWII, to brew “1945 Salute - Toasted Wheat Lager.” It’s available in Crowlers and for growler fills.
Crack one open while you enjoy one of the past performances. And maybe drink to the ill-fated 24th season, and the future success of the Virginia Arts Festival.
Cross said that he waited as long as possible before canceling or postponing events, but when the governor put the brakes on social gatherings ticket sales came to a screeching halt.
About 30% of ticket buyers have foregone refunds, Cross said, leaving the VAF to refund hundreds of thousands of dollars. The VAF lost all its market costs. As to clawing back money paid for airline tickets and hotel rooms, the airlines have been difficult, Cross said. Local hotels, on the other hand, have been very cooperative, he said. He noted that every hotel in downtown Norfolk had been sold out this week for the Hong Kong Ballet. And the VAF has applied for some of the federal coronavirus bailout money.
“We’re just cutting everywhere we can,” Cross said.
“I don’t see any way to not have a loss this year,” he said. “We’ll get over it. It’s going to be hard, but we have enough core support.”
He cited the example of a Virginia Beach couple who regularly attend “everything.” “This couple just said ‘No problem. We’re donating all of it, and just send us a schedule for next year.’”
The Virginia Arts Festival would have opened a week ago.