Think different Think different

Bay Area composer Mason Bates’s and librettist Mark Campbell’s contemporary opera about the life of the tech mogul Steve Jobs came home “to the place where it all began” in spectacular fashion

on September 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Got to get you into my strife Got to get you into my strife

Power struggles, prejudice, feuds and revenge abound in San Francisco at the moment.

on September 20, 2023 at 9:55 AM
Looking for Trouble Looking for Trouble

The ailing and grief-stricken Pinkerton was shown to give his son a diary about his time in Nagasaki, and as Trouble read it, he (and the audience) was taken back in time as the story came to life, similar to the use of Pensieve in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4).

on June 27, 2023 at 12:18 PM
Return of the Merolini Return of the Merolini

On June 16, San Francisco Opera concluded their excellent Centennial Season with a heartfelt 100th Anniversary Concert, featuring a starry cast, three conductors (including current and former Music Directors) and the SF Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

on June 21, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Returning to the Living World Returning to the Living World

“I joyfully await the exit—and I hope never to return” were the last words written by the visionary Mexican painter, Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (famously known simply as Frida Kahlo), according to her 2002 biography by Hayden Herrera.

on June 20, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Standing in the shadows of love Standing in the shadows of love

Richard Strauss’ monumental (arguably his magnum opus) Die Frau ohne Schatten made a triumphant return to the War Memorial Opera House last Sunday June 4 after 34 years.

on June 06, 2023 at 11:44 AM
Good grief Good grief

There are no words superlative enough to describe this celebration of Orpheus’ grief, and I truly applaud San Francisco Opera for presenting such food for thought that will definitely resonate long after with me.

on November 19, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Color my world Color my world

San Francisco Opera has unveiled a brand-new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s warhorse classic La traviata, the first “to be built in San Francisco Opera’s scene and costume shops in 35 years.”

on November 16, 2022 at 10:06 AM
A study in simplicity and profundity A study in simplicity and profundity

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays” – Soren Kierkegaard

on October 18, 2022 at 9:52 AM
Love me or leaf me Love me or leaf me

Robert Carsen‘s legendary production of Eugene Onegin finally arrives in San Francisco.

on September 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Classic example: ‘Antony’ at SFO Classic example: ‘Antony’ at SFO

Antony and Cleopatra was an auspicious start to San Francisco Opera’s second century, a performance that seems to improve as I continue to think about it.

on September 13, 2022 at 12:25 PM
The Verdi thing The Verdi thing

On Thursday June 30th, San Francisco Opera closed their summer season with a one-night-only special concert celebrating Eun Sun Kim’s first season as the Caroline H. Hume Music Director, in an aptly named concert “Eun Sun Kim Conducts Verdi.”

on July 05, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Dream on Dream on

The second act of Dream of the Red Chamber reached the apex and provided the audience with soul-stirring fulfillment.

on June 21, 2022 at 1:07 PM
Those monsters look like us Those monsters look like us

“This used to be a funhouse… but now it’s full of evil clowns / It’s time to start the countdown…. I’m gonna burn it down”

on June 07, 2022 at 8:07 AM
Let’s twist again Let’s twist again

In San Francisco Opera’s new Così fan tutte, the elements that most visibly read as “American” were a penchant for slapstick humor, overcooked blocking, and an abundance of cartoonish period costumes that hobbled the opera’s first act.

on November 23, 2021 at 9:21 AM
The big cube The big cube

Ludwig van Beethoven’s “rescue opera” Fidelio was presented by San Francisco Opera as their first new production of the season last Thursday in reinterpreted fashion.

on October 19, 2021 at 9:31 AM
Letting their hair down Letting their hair down

After the break the ladies stepped up their game so much that it elevated the night into legendary status: definitely one for the books!

on September 14, 2021 at 11:02 AM
On the edge of my seat On the edge of my seat

The San Francisco Opera became the first US opera company to present a full-blown production indoors on its home turf this season when they ushered the US opera audience into 2021-22 Season on Saturday September 21 with a stellar performance of Giacomo Puccini’s perennial favorite Tosca.

on August 24, 2021 at 11:45 AM
Dark and darker Dark and darker

San Francisco Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago have announced the cancellation of their respective 2020 fall seasons.

on June 16, 2020 at 3:37 PM
Baton passed Baton passed

Eun Sun Kim has been appointed the Caroline H. Hume Music Director of San Francisco Opera, effective August 1, 2021.

on December 05, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Grimm and proper Grimm and proper

Bring your family: This show is special! Such perfect opera is hard to find!

on November 19, 2019 at 2:16 PM
Strangers when we meet Strangers when we meet

The San Francisco Opera, perhaps incidentally, continued their exploration of operas based on literary works by mounting the revival of Giacomo Puccini’s first success, Manon Lescaut.

on November 17, 2019 at 11:50 AM
Take care of this house Take care of this house

How does one make a performance of standard opera repertoire like Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro feel “fresh?”

on October 22, 2019 at 12:50 PM
Miss me blond Miss me blond

From the technical standpoint San Francisco Opera’s Billy Budd was pretty much flawless.

on September 11, 2019 at 9:22 AM