Forgive La Cieca (not pictured), but it does seem to her that even in San Francisco, actions speak louder than words.  

“’This is a transition year, and I didn’t want to leave my successor with something big and ugly,’ [David] Gockley said in a phone interview. . . . The season’s more unusual offerings, in addition to… a revival of Janácek’s Makropulos Case with soprano Nadja Michael as the immortal diva Emilia Marty, include a new production of Verdi’s Aida directed by Francesca Zambello with designs by the Los Angeles graffiti artist Retna.”

The entire season, such as it is, is announced here.