Sound Culture

San Francisco Opera

Across the street, spine-tingling, harrowing sounds of sorrow and passion swell the hearts of patrons in 3,146 seats plus 200 standing-room space. The War Memorial Opera House is a historical splendor, a home to both the San Francisco Opera and Symphony until 1980 when the Davies Symphony Hall was built. In spring of 1945, the United Nations had its first conference there.

A night at the opera is a full royal affair inside the elegantly designed house with its faulted and coffered ceilings, colossal windows, and marble foyer. A dominating aluminum and glass panel chandelier looms over the theater space that is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting system. An extension behind the main stage for assembly and storage of sets allows for a three-opera cycle to be performed on consecutive nights, a perk to traveling opera fans who can come to San Francisco and see several productions. And in 2007, the San Francisco Opera introduced OperaVision, which is an innovative, high-definition way to give balcony audiences a better view of the stage.

The San Francisco Opera brings thousands of patrons to the Golden City every year, boosting revenues for San Francisco’s restaurant, hotel, retail, and transportation industry. Even with the recession, the SFO’s fall season drew in an audience of 118,000 last year.

Verdi’s Aida inaugurated San Francisco Opera’s 2010-2011 season, which was followed by the annual Opera Ball. The Aida production, which is equally moving in songs as it is stunning in sets and costumes, will show until December 5. The San Francisco Opera will present Jules Massenet’s Werther from September 15 to October 1 with tenor Ramón Vargas as the hero and Mezzo-soprano Alice Coote as his beloved Charlotte. Le Nozze di Figaro takes the stage from September 21 to October 22, and Madama Butterfly goes on October 12 through November 27. Another don’t-miss is Alfrano’s Cyrano de Bergerac, which runs from October 24 to November 12 and stars soprano Ainhoa Arteta and tenor Thiago Arancam, who is an SFO debut. Janacek’s The Makropulos Case, from November 10-28, will bring Karita Mattila back to the War Memorial Opera House where she will play ageless 300-year-old Emilia Marty. Finally, the season will close with Der Ring des Nibelungen from June 14 to July 3.

For tickets, contact 415.864.3330 or go to www.sfopera.com