Virginia Opera meets challenge

Virginia Opera has raised nearly $600,000 to match and surpass the goal of a $500,000 challenge grant made by an anonymous donor last January, adding more than $1 million to the company’s revenue.

The additional funds will be used for some 300 education and outreach programs statewide, as well as supporting the company’s four mainstage productions in 2012 and its Emerging Artists troupe.

Nearly 600 individual, corporate and foundation donors contributed to meet the challenge grant, said Russell P. Allen, Virginia Opera’s CEO and president.