Learn More. Meet new people, get insider scoop and save big on some of the best seats in the house. The husband-and-wife duo, each a celebrated artist on the worlds leading opera stages, headline Opera Ball, the annual benefit co-presented by San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Opera Guild. Discover more about opera with education classes, articles, and more. Director Shawna Lucey, the recently appointed general director of Opera San Jos, and her team created a lovely production that detailed the changing seasons of nature and buttressed the changing love-relationship between Violetta and Alfredo. In September 2006, it was announced and reported that by mutual agreement with Gockley, Donald Runnicles would conclude his tenure as music director in 2009. Meet one of the best teams in the opera world. Box Office (415) 864-3330 Mon 10am-5pm Tue-Sat 10am-6pm. The acclaimed new work Innocence, from esteemed Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho with libretto by Sofi Oksanen and text dramaturgy and multilanguage translations by Aleksi Barrire, has its American premiere in June 2024. He is joined by several exciting artists making their first engagements with the Company. The Samoan tenor reflects on the centrality of his family in his musical journey from New Zealand to the worlds leading opera stages in this episode from the Companys award-winning In Song series. Thirdly, a characteristic of the Adler years was his interest in developing stronger connections to opera stage directors in an attempt to strengthen the dramatic and theatrical elements of the works. Icelandic bass Kristinn Sigmundsson, who was the Water Gnome in Dvoks Rusalka under Kims baton in 2019, returns as King Heinrich. Young professionals club for opera lovers. One was to expand the season which in Merola's time ran from the Friday after Labor Day until early November (when the Metropolitan Opera's season began) in order to capitalize on the availability of singers by presenting up to fourteen operas with two or three performances each. The estimated base pay is $3,886 per month. Our relationship is passionate and committed. Along with Eun Sun Kims multi-season Verdi and Wagner cycles and the repertoire expanding co-commissions, San Francisco Operas 202324 Season will witness the Company debuts of many exceptional artists on stage and in the pit. Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Danielle de Niese plays the title role in "Partenope" by the San Francisco Opera. In partnership with the Dolby family, the Company will continue its popular Dolby Family Opera for the Bay program. Joshua Kosman Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicle's music critic. War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102-4509. IL TROVATORE by Giuseppe VerdiSeptember 12October 1, 2023, Arturo Chacn-Cruz; Angel Blue; George Petean; Anita Rachvelishvili; Eun Sun Kim. By "hand holding" her through the various stages of training, he prepared her for the role of Azucena in Il trovatore for the summer 1986 season to great acclaim. ft. apartment is a 1 bed, 2.0 bath unit. The worlds of silent film, 1920s cabaret and animation collide in Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrades internationally acclaimed production which originated at Komische Oper Berlin and makes its Bay Area premiere. You, as our audience, complete the cycle; one that begins with the . The "Most Likely Range" represents values that . [5], One of Mansouri's triumphs was the overseeing of the reconstruction and renovation of the opera house following the October 1989 earthquake. Baritone Norman Garrett makes his house debut in the double roles of Omars brother, Abdul, and Abe; baritone Daniel Okulitch portrays both Johnson and Owen and tenor Barry Banks is the Auctioneer and Taylor. A new-to-San Francisco Opera production of Lohengrin (opening October 15) marks the beginning of a parallel, annual artistic journey under Kims baton through the works of Richard Wagner. Matthew Shilvock, Tad and Dianne Taube General DirectorEun Sun Kim, Caroline H. Hume Music Director, John A. Gunn, Chairman, San Francisco Opera Board of DirectorsKeith B. Geeslin, President, San Francisco Opera Association, Administration Board of Directors Orchestra Chorus Dancers BACKSTAGEUnion, War Memorial Opera House301 Van Ness AvenueSan Francisco, CA 94102-4509, (415) 864-3330Mon 10am-5pmTue-Sat 10am-6pm, Performance days: 10am through first intermission, AboutEmployment | AuditionsPress RoomBlogVisitPerformance Archive, Opera ShopStreaming the First CenturyBohme Out of The Box, SF Opera GuildMerola Opera ProgramOpera Center, San Francisco Opera is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. viola. However, until well after Merola's death on August 30, 1953 while conducting an open-air concert at Stern Grove, the main San Francisco season rarely extended beyond late October. During the 1983 fall season, the student/family matinee performances of La traviata were presented with supertitles. San Francisco Opera Orchestra. Box Office (415) 864-3330 Mon 10am-5pm Tue-Sat . cello. For over 75 years, San Francisco Opera Guild hasoffered enthralling, award-winning K-12 education programs and engaging community outreach programs. She made her company debut as Gerhilde in the San Francisco Opera's production of Wagner's "Die Walkre." She went on to sing with the San Francisco Opera for the next seven years. Dulcamara, the miracle worker whose elixir provides the liquid courage Nemorino needs to express his true feelings, is performed by Italian baritone Renato Girolami. San Diego Opera Guild was founded in 1950 to present San Francisco Opera productions in the San Diego community. The individual members of Ian Robertson's Opera Chorus suffered especially from the amplification glitches, . The production used imagery from various eras of American history and had a feminist and environmentalist viewpoint. . 3 of 24 4 of 24 Members of the audience gave a standing ovation to the first half of the opera presentation. Five hours sometimes more of squirming in 1932-era seats at the War Memorial Opera House here, sinking into lumpy, dusty cushions, suffering the . Three new works co-commissioned by San Francisco Opera punctuate the Companys 101st season. In this gripping one-act drama by composer Kaija Saariaho, librettist Sofi Oksanen and dramaturg Aleksi Barrire, a harrowing story of emotional shock and surprise unfolds in which the understanding of innocence and guilt is continually upended. Alexander is a graduate of the prestigious Merola program at the San Francisco Opera, and is the recipient of the 2013 John Moriarty Award for his outstanding contribution to Central City Opera. Board Member Bay Area Girls Rock Camp Jan 2023 Arts and Culture More activity by Vivienne . War Memorial Opera House301 Van Ness AvenueSan Francisco, CA 94102-4509, (415) 864-3330Mon 10am-5pmTue-Sat 10am-6pm, Performance days: 10am through first intermission, AboutEmployment | AuditionsPress RoomBlogVisitPerformance Archive, Opera ShopStreaming the First CenturyBohme Out of The Box, SF Opera GuildMerola Opera ProgramOpera Center, San Francisco Opera is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. San Francisco Opera's Second Century Dawns with New Music and Fresh Explorations, Music Director Eun Sun Kim To Lead Annual Presentations of Works by Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner Beginning with IL TROVATORE and LOHENGRINCompany Premieres of Repertoire-Expanding Co-Commissions:THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS by Mason Bates and Mark CampbellOMAR by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael AbelsINNOCENCE by Kaija Saariaho, Sofi Oksanen and Aleksi Barrire, Other 202324 Season Highlights Include:New Co-Production of Gaetano Donizettis THE ELIXIR OF LOVE by Daniel SlaterBarrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrades Staging of Mozarts THE MAGIC FLUTEReturn of Handels PARTENOPE in Christopher Aldens ProductionOPERA BALL Headlined by Roberto Alagna, Aleksandra Kurzak and Eun Sun KimOther Special Events Include Free Opera in the Park and The Elixir of Love EncounterThird Performance of Each Mainstage Opera Will Be Livestreamed. PURPOSE: To help coordinate systems and logistics for facilities items, production rentals and theatrical technical work related to the construction, transport, mounting, and running of San Francisco Opera productions in a . About Press Room Blog Visit Performance Archive. San Francisco, California, U.S. Called a "transitional year" in its announcement Tuesday, June 22, the season is expected to open . San Francisco Opera (SFO) is an American opera company founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola (18811953) based in San Francisco, California. Your support helps us fulfill our mission to bring the transformative power of musical storytelling to our community. Several innovations undertaken by Adler included the Merola Opera Program (named after the first general director). San Francisco Opera presents the operas American premiere. Visit Us. Visit Us. The simulcast of "Live and in Concert: The Homecoming" at Oracle Park is free. War Memorial Opera . Armed with nothing but a magic flute and magic bells, a prince and a bird-catcher embark on a perilous journey to rescue a kidnapped princess only to discover that their adversary may actually be their ally. As a reaction to the economic climate of the times, in 1982 McEwen, created the "San Francisco Opera Center" to oversee and combine the operation and administration of the numerous affiliate educational and training programs. . FROM HARLEM TO JUILLIARD Born in New York City on January 30, 1928 to parents who emigrated from Barbados in the West Indies, Elayne Jones considers herself a "New Yorkerof African origin." . Layered in Masonic symbolism and occult mysteries, Mozarts The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflte) is, above all, one of operas most joyous and accessible masterworks. Innocence follows a familys ability to deal with tragedy. Taube Atrium Theater and Osher Recital Hall. Providing a coordinated sequence of performance and study opportunities for young artists, the San Francisco Opera Center included the "Merola Opera Program", "Adler Fellowship Program", "Showcase Series", "Brown Bag Opera", "Opera Center Singers", "Schwabacher Recitals", and various Education Programs. [1] The first performance occurred in the Stanford Cardinal's football stadium on June 3rd, 1922, with a star-studded group of singers, including Giovanni Martinelli in Pagliacci, followed by Carmen and Faust. . violin I. violin II. San Francisco Opera has presented several world premieres under David Gockley's tenure. Countertenor Carlo Vistoli makes his American opera debut as Arsace, and countertenor Nicholas Tamagna joins the Company as Armindo. San Francisco Opera Company celebrated the annual Opera in the Park event in Sharon . Can't make it to the Winspear? After three months of acting as artistic director, and with the assistance of its president, Robert Watt Miller, Adler was confirmed as general director. Don't miss this chance to revel in 100 years of history as we look to the future of opera. Opera funding,", "San Francisco Opera Picks Matthew Shilvock, an Insider, to be its Leader", "Gockley era starts off strong with soprano Patricia Racette flexing vocal, dramatic muscle", History of San Francisco Opera on company's website, Joshua Kosman, "S.F. Like many great ideas, it started in the shower. Position Type : Full Time . San Francisco Opera is a member of. On Sunday, September 10, Kim and the Orchestra, along with vocal soloists from the Companys fall season, take to Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park for the annual Opera in the Park free concert. The organization was . In 1921, Merola returned to the city, living under the patronage of Mrs. Oliver Stine. But just as a bride and groom toast their marriage, a devastating secret unfolds that threatens to tear the couple apart, questioning where innocence and guilt begin and end. Composer and performer Rhiannon Giddens Photo: Ebru Yildiz "Omar," a new operatic collaboration by Grammy Award-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens and composer Michael Abels, is scheduled for a world premiere in May at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, S.C, after which the piece will be performed by a consortium of co-commissioning companies, including the San Francisco Opera. She returned with few exceptions every season for 26 years and made her last appearance in the house in 1982. [31], In order to consolidate its various office and work spaces scattered throughout San Francisco, SFO took over the fourth floor of the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in February 2016, following the completion of the building's $156-million seismic retrofit and renovation. Miles Mykkanen portrays the Groom, bass Kristinn Sigmundsson is the Priest and Lucy Shelton is the teacher. Many have also returned to LA Opera to sing leading roles. The 1923-24 season, for example, included productions of Andrea Chnier (with Beniamino Gigli), Mefistofele (again with Gigli), Tosca (with Giuseppe De Luca and Martinelli), and Verdi's Rigoletto (with Queena Mario, De Luca and Gigli). The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs by Bay Area composer Mason Bates and Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Mark Campbell had its world premiere in 2017 and has since enjoyed a Grammy-winning recording and multiple productions around North America. The creative team from the original production, led by director Kevin Newbury, will be reunited for this presentation near the Silicon Valley environs that provide the operas setting. San Francisco Opera is a member of. During the nine years following the opening season, the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House was conceived. The overwhelmingly favorable response prompted the company to introduce the practice in increasing numbers of performances in subsequent seasons. We will have a world premiere for you in 2007, and the Wagner lovers among you will be happy to hear that we expect to commence a Ring Cycle in 2008. Merola's tenure lasted 30 years. Nilsson made her US-debut in San Francisco in 1956. Cori Ellison, "Opera Recalls A Hero's Life, Love and Song", San Francisco Chronicle review, March 2013, San Francisco Chronicle review, June 2013, San Francisco Chronicle review, September 2013. Originally built in 1888 by the San Francisco Masonic Lodge No. We are known for commissioning numerous world premieres, training some of opera's greatest young artists, and creating innovative programs and events to inspire a new generation of opera goers. Click here to access our new Future of Opera subscription built exclusively for you. And the underworld heeds his call. Bud Cary San Francisco opera collection. War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102-4509. During the 2022-23 Season, the third performance of every opera will be available as a livestream. * Notes * Don Giovanni, the last installment of the Mozart-Da Ponte trilogy directed by Michael Cavanagh, opened yesterday evening at San Francisco Opera.It was a joy to hear Maestro Bertrand de Billy conduct this beautiful music and there was much lovely singing. Description . Above: members of the young artist program perform with Susan Graham in a 2019 recital. A gem in San Franciscos architectural crown, the 3,146-seat War Memorial Opera House is a California Historical Landmark. Moving up the ranks in the 1950s, he landed in New York in 1959 and for the next 20 years made London Records, Decca's classical arm, the most significant classical label in the United States. Merola heard of him and, over the telephone, invited him to San Francisco opera in 1943 as chorus director. Many went on to international careers, among them Carol Vaness and Thomas Hampson. San Francisco Opera and Washington National Opera began a co-production of a new Ring Cycle in 2006 directed by Francesca Zambello. Since 1983, these recitals have featured renowned Merola alumni and have also been instrumental in launching the careers of internationally acclaimed artists. By the 1970s, the company was highly successful and offered audiences the "cream of the crop" of internationally known singers, but, with Adler often bringing in unknowns to make their American debuts or the surprise of well-known singers replacing ailing ones, there were some exciting nights at the opera. [10] In October 2014 it was announced that Gockley would be stepping down from his post at the end of the 2015/16 season. : The Nature of the Human Condition". 212 to serve as an entertainment hall for its members, the Bayview Opera House was designed by prominent German architect Henry . The following day his mentor, Kurt Herbert Adler, died. The Orchestra's most treasured relationship is the one we have with you, our audience. Partenope is the queen of the Paris social scene, her salon a magnet to the eras surrealist artists as they vie for her hand in a laugh-out-loud comedy. 1 Bath. San Francisco Opera General Director Kurt Herbert Adler (third from left) is honored by members of the opera supporters' group Il Cenacolo at a Christmas dinner in 1969. Beds. And on Friday night at the War Memorial Opera House, the San Francisco Ballet proved that .