The Virginia Opera celebrates the beginning of Black History Month with the world premiere of Deep River: The Marian Anderson Story, this Friday, January 27, at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center.

The opera depicts the life of famed African American opera singer Marian Anderson as she navigated life as a performer in segregated America. Marian Anderson helped to break racial barriers for African American entertainers and was the very first African American woman to perform at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. She was also the first African American to perform with the acclaimed New York Metropolitan Opera in 1955.

Tickets for the opera are on sale for $10 at www.downinggross.org.