San Francisco Opera

Bryan Hymel and Nadine Sierra sing the leads in Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet,” opening San Francisco Opera’s 2019-20 season. (Courtesy Alain Hanel)

SF Opera’s 97th season spans centuries

San Francisco Opera is staging eight operas spanning from Baroque through Romantic…

 

San Francisco Opera’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” features Golda Schultz as Clara and William Burden as George Bailey (center), and, from left, Sarah Cambidge, Amitai Pati, Christian Pursell and Ashley Dixon as Angels First Class. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/ San Francisco Opera)

SF Opera sets holiday mood with gratifying ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

San Francisco Opera’s revised production of Jake Heggie’s opera “It’s a Wonderful…

 

From left, Kearstin Piper Brown, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer sing “Auld Lang Syne” in a session to promote “It’s a Wonderful Life,” opening Nov. 17 at the War Memorial Opera House in The City. (Courtesy Matthew Washburn/San Francisco Opera)

It’s a sneak preview of S.F. Opera’s ‘Wonderful Life’

San Francisco Opera offered a sneak peek this week of its upcoming…

 

Carmen Giannattasio and Brian Jagde sing the lead roles in San Francisco Opera’s “Tosca,” the popular Puccini work that has appeared in 39 of the company’s 96 seasons. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/ San Francisco Opera)

San Francisco Opera stages powerful, timely ‘Tosca’

It was almost exactly 95 years ago when San Francisco Opera staged…

Carmen Giannattasio and Brian Jagde sing the lead roles in San Francisco Opera’s “Tosca,” the popular Puccini work that has appeared in 39 of the company’s 96 seasons. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/ San Francisco Opera)
From left, Laura Krumm, Roberto Aronica and Ekaterina Semenchuk portray jealous lovers in “Cavalleria Rusticana.” (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

‘Cavalleria Rusticana,’ ‘Pagliacci’ stir emotions at War Memorial Opera House

San Francisco Opera unveiled its 96th season Friday with a satisfying production,…

From left, Laura Krumm, Roberto Aronica and Ekaterina Semenchuk portray jealous lovers in “Cavalleria Rusticana.” (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
Russell Thomas and Sondra Radvanovsky sing the lead roles in San Francisco Opera’s “Roberto Devereux.” (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

San Francisco Opera triumphs with regal ‘Roberto Devereux’

San Francisco Opera has staged Donizetti’s “Roberto Devereux” just once, in 1979,…

Russell Thomas and Sondra Radvanovsky sing the lead roles in San Francisco Opera’s “Roberto Devereux.” (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
San Francisco Opera's blazing finale of Wagner’s “Die Walküre” with Iréne Theorin as Brünnhilde and Greer Grimsley as Wotan is a highlight of the 2018 "Ring" Cycle. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

SF Opera completes triumphant ‘Ring’ again

San Francisco Opera’s modern-set, 21st-century production of Wagner’s massive 19th-century masterwork “Der…

San Francisco Opera's blazing finale of Wagner’s “Die Walküre” with Iréne Theorin as Brünnhilde and Greer Grimsley as Wotan is a highlight of the 2018 "Ring" Cycle. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
San Francisco Opera kicked off a series of three contemporary-set “Ring” cycles with "Das Rheingold.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

SF Opera launches ‘Ring’ with shimmering ‘Rheingold’

Fresh mixed-media effects and a strong cast set the stage for San…

San Francisco Opera kicked off a series of three contemporary-set “Ring” cycles with "Das Rheingold.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
San Francisco Opera’s revival of Wagner’s “Ring” begins with technological advances in Das Rheingold,” the first work in the cycle. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

New tech brings SF Opera’s ‘Ring’ revival solidly into 21st century

Opera fans from around the world, especially Richard Wagner aficionados, will flock…

San Francisco Opera’s revival of Wagner’s “Ring” begins with technological advances in Das Rheingold,” the first work in the cycle. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
“It’s a Wonderful Life” closes San Francisco Opera’s 2018 fall season. (Courtesy Lynn Lane)

96th SF Opera season charts journey through emotions

San Francisco Opera will present a chronological, comprehensive selection of nine operas…

“It’s a Wonderful Life” closes San Francisco Opera’s 2018 fall season. (Courtesy Lynn Lane)
San Francisco Opera’s cast and crew rehearse “Girls of the Golden West,” a show set during the Gold Rush. (Stefan Cohen/San Francisco Opera)

SF Opera’s ‘Girls of the Golden West’ is about the real Gold Rush

San Francisco Opera’s long record of staging works by John Adams --…

San Francisco Opera’s cast and crew rehearse “Girls of the Golden West,” a show set during the Gold Rush. (Stefan Cohen/San Francisco Opera)
Ellie Dehn and Michael Fabiano, center, make grand role debuts in San Francisco Opera’s “Manon.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

Love and talent conquer all in SF Opera’s ‘Manon’

San Francisco Opera brought back Massenet’s opera "Manon" after a 19-year absence…

Ellie Dehn and Michael Fabiano, center, make grand role debuts in San Francisco Opera’s “Manon.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
Tenor Atalla Ayan and soprano Aurelia Florian make impressive San Francisco Opera debuts in “La Traviata.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

Principal performances energize SF Opera ‘La Traviata’ revival

Although San Francisco Opera didn’t break new ground Saturday night opening its…

Tenor Atalla Ayan and soprano Aurelia Florian make impressive San Francisco Opera debuts in “La Traviata.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
Martina Sarafin and Brian Jagde opened San Francisco Opera’s 2017-18 season as the leads in the lustrous “Turandot.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

Vivid, commanding SF Opera ‘Turandot’

San Francisco Opera unfurled its 95th season Friday by reviving a David…

Martina Sarafin and Brian Jagde opened San Francisco Opera’s 2017-18 season as the leads in the lustrous “Turandot.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
Henrik Nánási is making his San Francisco Opera debut conducting Strauss. (Courtesy Gunnar Geller/GM Art & Music)

SF Opera stages Strauss’ shocking, irresistible ‘Elektra’

Even for longtime opera fans and experts, the first listen to Richard…

Henrik Nánási is making his San Francisco Opera debut conducting Strauss. (Courtesy Gunnar Geller/GM Art & Music)
San Francisco Performances opens its season with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard performing an All-Bernstein Centennial program on Oct. 1 at Herbst Theatre. (Courtesy Becca Fay)

Fall 2017 Arts Preview: Classical

Virtuosity abounds – with chamber ensembles, orchestras, soloists and grand opera. Here…

San Francisco Performances opens its season with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard performing an All-Bernstein Centennial program on Oct. 1 at Herbst Theatre. (Courtesy Becca Fay)
O.J. Simpson could be granted parole in Nevada this week. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson/Pool)

O.J. Simpson feeling ‘positive’ about parole

O.J. Simpson may be stealing the spotlight from Donald Trump this week:…

O.J. Simpson could be granted parole in Nevada this week. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson/Pool)
Arturo Chacón-Cruz and Erika Grimaldi are the love birds in San Francisco Opera’s 2017 production of “La Bohème.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver)

Artistry and love flourish in SF Opera’s ‘La Bohème’

Paris in February can be a city as chilly as it is…

Arturo Chacón-Cruz and Erika Grimaldi are the love birds in San Francisco Opera’s 2017 production of “La Bohème.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver)
Erwin Schrott, left, and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo are excellent in San Francisco Opera’s “Don Giovanni.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

Dynamic duo rules SF Opera’s ‘Don Giovanni’

Mozart’s masterpiece “Don Giovanni” makes it quite clear it’s a man’s world.…

Erwin Schrott, left, and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo are excellent in San Francisco Opera’s “Don Giovanni.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
Erwin Schrott is making his San Francisco Opera debut in “Don Giovanni.” (Courtesy Uli Webber)

Erwin Schrott happy to sing Leporello in The City

San Francisco Opera’s announcement that bass-baritone Erwin Schrott would replace the ailing…

Erwin Schrott is making his San Francisco Opera debut in “Don Giovanni.” (Courtesy Uli Webber)