ANNUAL REPORT
Photo by David Wakely
FISCAL YEAR 2014
Photo by Cory Weaver
MI SSI ON
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To present opera performances of the highest international quality available to the widest possible audiences
To perpetuate and enrich the operatic art form
To be creative and innovative in all aspects of opera
To take a leadership role in training, arts education and audience development
C O M PANY San Francisco Opera has been a leader among international opera companies since its founding in 1923. Under the leadership of General Director David Gockley and Music Director Nicola Luisotti, the Company is committed to presenting the world’s foremost artists and productions, commissioning signature works, training the next generation of opera stars and building audiences of the future.
B O AR D O F D I R E C TOR S Dawn Yates Black Timothy Blackburn Donna L. Blacker, Merola Opera Program President ^ Carol Franc Buck Jack Calhoun + Annette Campbell-White Ronald E. Cape, Ph.D.* Janet Chapman Robert D. Cory Paul M. Crane Dorfman + John Cullison Mrs. Peter W. (Jayne) Davis Ira D. Dearing Carol Pucci Doll Robert A. Ellis + Lisa Erdberg + Concepción Federman Peter Fenton Kristina Johnson Flanagan Keith B. Geeslin + David Gockley + ^ John A. Gunn + Lauren Groff, BRAVO! President ^ Louise Gund John A. Gunn + Jane M. Hartley + I. Craig Henderson, M.D. John Hendrickson Doreen Woo Ho
(August 1, 2013–July 31, 2014)
George H. Hume + Bruce W. Hyman + J. Burgess Jamieson Dorothy M. Jeffries Philip M. Jelley Franklin P. Johnson, Jr. + Stephen S. Kahng Joseph D. Keegan, Ph.D. Lawrence A. Kern Mark R. Kroll Karen J. Kubin, Guild President ^ Thomas A. Larsen + Phil Libin Sylvia R. Lindsey Lorry I. Lokey J. Patterson McBaine Anne G. McWilliams Mrs. Mark A. (Teresa) Medearis Steven Menzies + Karl O. Mills + Nancy S. Mueller Ben Nelson J. Boyce Nute + Hiromitsu Ogawa Masashi Oka Bernard Osher + Gil Penchina Mary A. Powell Harriet Meyer Quarré Karthik Rau Randall Reynoso
Karen Richardson Richard J. Rigg, Ph.D. C.P. Russell Bill Russell-Shapiro + Jack Schafer Ruth A. Short Mrs. George P. (Charlotte) Shultz Vivian M. Stephenson* Lisa Stevens Gallo Mrs. Tad (Dianne) Taube Mrs. David T. (Joan) Traitel Soo Venkatesan Mrs. Alfred S. (Dede) Wilsey + Sharon Winslow Barbara A. Wolfe Barbara Ward Wonder Melinda Yee-Franklin S. Shariq Yosufzai + + Executive Committee Member ^ Ex Officio * Deceased CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL: Reid W. Dennis William W. Godward Barbara K. Jackson Franklin P. Johnson, Jr., Chairman Bernard Osher
Photos by Cory Weaver
C ON T EN TS PRODUCTIONS 2013–14 Season…………………………………………….….... 4 2013–14 Production Summary.. …………..…………..………. 6
FINANCIALS Income ……………...…..…….…………………………………. 8 Expenses ..…….....………….………………………………..…. 9
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Opera in the Park ………………………………………..…..... 10 Media Initiatives ……………….…………………….………… 11 Community Open House ………………….…………....……. 12
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & PROGRAMS Verdi Requiem ……………..…………………………..……… 13 Education ………………………………………...……………. 14 Adler Fellowship Program …………………………………… 15 Company & Production Sponsors …………………………... 16
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2013–14 SEASON FALL 2013 MEFISTOFELE
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRODUCTION
ARRIGO BOITO
R EV I EW S “It was an enthralling evening at the War Memorial Opera House, the ovations were enormous.” -Opera Today
Conductor: Nicola Luisotti Production: Robert Carsen Director: Laurie Feldman Designer: Michael Levine Lighting Designer: Gary Marder Choreographer: Alphonse Poulin
DOLORES CLAIBORNE
WORLD PREMIERE
TOBIAS PICKER Conductor: George Manahan* Director: James Robinson Set Designer: Allen Moyer Costume Designer: James Schuette* Lighting Designer: Christopher Akerlind Projection Designer: Greg Emetaz*
FALSTAFF
NEW TO SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
GIUSEPPE VERDI Conductor: Nicola Luisotti Director: Oliver Tambosi Production Designer: Frank Philipp Schlössmann Lighting Designer: Christine Binder
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
NEW PRODUCTION
RICHARD WAGNER Conductor: Patrick Summers Director: Petrika Ionesco Set Designer: Petrika Ionesco Costume Designer: Lili Kendaka Lighting Designer: Gary Marder Projection Designer: S. Katy Tucker
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Photo by Cory Weaver
Conductor: Giuseppe Finzi Director: Emilio Sagi Set Designer: Lorenç Corbella* Costime Designer: Pepa Ojanguren* Lighting Designer: Gary Marder
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NEW PRODUCTION
SUMMER 2014 SHOW BOAT
COMPANY PREMIERE
JEROME KERN / OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II Conductor: John DeMain Director: Francesca Zambello Set Designer: Peter J. Davison Costume Designer: Paul Tazewell Lighting Designer: Mark McCullough Sound Designer: Tod Nixon Choreographer: Michele Lynch
LA TRAVIATA
R EV I EW S
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRODUCTION
GIUSEPPE VERDI Conductor: Nicola Luisotti / Giuseppe Finzi Original Director: John Copley Director: Laurie Feldman Set Designer: John Conklin Costume Designer: David Walker Lighting Designer: Gary Marder
MADAME BUTTERFLY
NEW TO SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
GIACOMO PUCCINI Conductor: Nicola Luisotti / Giuseppe Finzi Director: Leslie Swackhamer* Production Designer: Jun Kaneko Lighting Designer: Gary Marder
“When everything meshes as magnificently as it did at the War Memorial Opera House on Sunday afternoon—a consistently strong cast, a beautiful and inventive production, sumptuous orchestral playing and canny conducting—where do you even begin?” -San Francisco Chronicle
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS VERDI REQUIEM GIUSEPPE VERDI Conductor: Nicola Luisotti Soprano: Leah Crocetto Mezzo-Soprano: Margaret Mezzacappa Tenor: Michael Fabiano Bass: Vitalij Kowaljow
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE FOR FAMILIES NEW PRODUCTION
Photo by Cory Weaver
GIOACHINO ROSSINI Conductor: Giuseppe Finzi Director: Roy Rallo *San Francisco Opera debut
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2013–14 PRODUCTION SUMMARY FALL 2013 Production
Tickets Performances Sold
Ticket Revenue
Average House Contributed Capacity First-Time Revenue* of Run Patrons
Out-ofTown Patrons
MEFISTOFELE
8
20,623
$ 2,566,163
$ 1,224,363
82%
3,181
2,365
DOLORES CLAIBORNE
6
9,998
$ 1,245,495
$ 1,236,057
53%
860
1,129
FALSTAFF
8
19,144
$ 2,367,910
$ 890,000
76%
1,889
2,363
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
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15,611
$ 1,947,691
$ 72,500
71%
1,396
1,895
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
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28,699
$ 3,250,214
$ 620,000
83%
5,807
2,936
TOTALS
40
94,075
75%
13,133
10,688
$ 11,377,472 $ 4,042,920
*funds designated to support a particular production
SUMMER 2014 Average House Contributed Capacity First-Time Revenue* of Run Patrons
Out-ofTown Patrons
Performances
Tickets Sold
Ticket Revenue
SHOW BOAT
10
30,472
$ 4,067,584
$ 1,690,825
97%
8,021
3,518
LA TRAVIATA
10
26,048
$ 3,139,523
$ 376,000
83%
5,758
3,431
MADAME BUTTERFLY
8
23,052
$ 2,883,498
$ 480,460
92%
5,011
2,997
28
79,572
90%
18,790
9,946
Production
TOTALS
$ 10,090,605 $ 2,547,285
*funds designated to support a particular production
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SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Average House Contributed Capacity First-Time Revenue* of Run Patrons
Out-ofTown Patrons
Performances
Tickets Sold
Ticket Revenue
VERDI REQUIEM
1
3,316
$ 459,620
$ 25,000
105%
178
525
BARBER FOR FAMILIES
2
6,066
$ 204,425
$ 86,000
96%
2,494
553
TOTALS
3
9,382
$ 664,045
$ 111,000
101%
2,672
1,078
Production
*funds designated to support a particular production
GRAND TOTALS
Productions 10
Tickets Performances Sold 71
Ticket Revenue
Average House Contributed Capacity First-Time Revenue* of Run Patrons
183,029 $ 22,132,121 $ 6,701,205
82%
34,595
Out-ofTown Patrons 21,712
*funds designated to support particular productions
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I N CO M E REVENUE Contributed Revenue: $36,758,207 Operating Revenue (including $22.7M ticket sales):
$27,608,763 Endowment Draw: $9,404,279 Photo by Scott Wall
Total Revenue: $73,771,249
CONTRIBUTED REVENUE DETAIL
C O MM EN TS
Individuals: $23,222,795
“Despite our best efforts to meet the financial goals we set for FY14, the Company posted a modest deficit. While this is never great news to report, I am heartened by the enthusiastic support of our thousands of generous donors and ticket buyers who remain committed to producing world-class opera in the Bay Area. Our community’s support of San Francisco Opera is truly remarkable.
Foundation: $8,478,927
-Keith Geeslin, President, San Francisco Opera Association 8
Corporations: $1,732,979 Government: $756,542 Guild: $703,714 Bequests (allocated to Operations):
$1,427,415 Subtotal: $36,322,372 In-Kind: $423,335 In-Kind Depreciation: $12,500 Total Contributed Revenue:
$36,758,207
ENDOWMENT Endowment Value (as of July 31, 2014): $164,698,210
E X P EN SE S EXPENSES Production & Artistic (including Education, Media & Opera Center): $56,628,034 Marketing & Box Office: $7,070,607 Administrative & General Operations: $5,498,493 Photo by Terrence McCarthy
Fundraising: $4,922,359 Total Expenses: $74,119,493
C O MM EN TS “I am particularly grateful for the extraordinary support of our donors and subscribers who stand with me and the Board in our resolve to maintain the highest international performing standards of this renowned company.� -David Gockley, General Director, San Francisco Opera
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Photos by Cory Weaver
O P ER A I N TH E PA R K On September 8, 2013, San Francisco Opera hosted its 40th annual free outdoor concert at Golden Gate Park. Since its founding in 1971 by the late Kurt Herbert Adler, crowds of up to 20,000 have gathered at Sharon Meadow every September for an afternoon performance featuring the stars of the current San Francisco Opera season. The 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Presents Opera in the Park concert featured San Francisco Opera mainstage artists Ildar Abdrazakov, Susannah Biller, Elizabeth Futral, Heidi Stober, Wayne Tigges and Ramón Vargas. Music Director Nicola Luisotti led the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, headed by concertmaster Kay Stern. 2013 Adler Fellows Marina Harris, Joo Won Kang, Laura Krumm, Robert Mollicone, Renée Rapier, Philippe Sly and Chuanyue Wang also performed. The program included arias from The Barber of Seville, Idomeneo, La Bohème, Die Fledermaus, The Marriage of Figaro, Luisa Miller, Romeo and Juliet (Gounod), Mefistofele, Don Giovanni, The Italian Girl in Algiers and Attila, among others.
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Photo by Scott Wall
M ED I A I NI TI ATI V E S The 2013-14 Season saw the expansion of San Francisco Opera’s innovative media initiatives including an international live streaming of Mefistofele to selected European cinemas, a nationwide television broadcast of Moby-Dick as part of the Great Performances Series on PBS, a live simulcast of Falstaff to Stanford’s Frost Amphitheater in partnership with Stanford Live and the DVD/Blu-ray releases of Moby-Dick, Lucrezia Borgia and Porgy and Bess. 2014 was the fourth consecutive year of Company broadcasts on KQED Public Television with presentations of Porgy and Bess, Aida, Boris Godunov and Lucrezia Borgia. The Company’s partnership with KDFC continued with a series of radio broadcasts of recent and historical performances. The Cinemacast series continued with screenings of Company productions in local and regional independent cinemas. At the Opera House audiences continued to enjoy OperaVision, high-definition projection screens in the Balcony section.
TW E ET S “LOVING the opera so far!!! Crackerjack anyone?? #loveormoney #latraviata” “@SFOpera great first act. #gettingcultured with a lesson on #loveormoney”
All activity is made possible by the Koret-Taube Media Suite.
OPERA AT THE BALLPARK Thousands of fans filled AT&T Park on the evening of July 5, 2014 for a free, live simulcast of La Traviata. Approximate AT&T Park attendance: 26,000 Approximate Opera House attendance: 2,600 Total designated contributed revenue: $100,000
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C O MM UNI TY OP E N H OU S E San Francisco Opera hosted its second Community Open House at the War Memorial Opera House on November 9, 2013. The event was free and open to the public and featured activities and demonstrations for all ages. The event also provided an opportunity for the community to explore the historic Opera House, which opened in 1932. Throughout the day, thousands of children and families participated in free events and activities stationed on every level of the Opera House. On the main stage, the public watched the Opera Orchestra, Chorus and soloists perform excerpts from The Barber of Seville, led by Resident Conductor Giuseppe Finzi and Chorus Director Ian Robertson. 2013 Adler Fellows Laura Krumm and Joo Won Kang were the featured soloists. Elsewhere in the Opera House, the community attended singalongs, stage combat workshops and costume and wig and makeup demonstrations. Other activities included arts and crafts stations and a costume photo booth.
Photos by Kristen Loken
For the first time, the Company hosted food trucks in the War Memorial courtyard so the attendees had access to food and beverages during the event.
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V ER D I R EQ UI EM In celebration of the bicentennial of Verdi’s birth, San Francisco Opera presented an unprecedented performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem on October 25, 2013, featuring the combined choruses and orchestras of San Francisco Opera and Italy’s Teatro di San Carlo of Naples.
Photo by Drew Altizer
Photo by Terrence McCarthy
Conducted by Nicola Luisotti, music director of both companies, this concert featured four vocal soloists—soprano and former Adler Fellow Leah Crocetto, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Michael Fabiano and bass Vitalij Kowaljow. This unique presentation of the Requiem was offered as part of the worldwide Verdi bicentennial celebration and in recognition of 2013 The Year of Italian Culture in the United States.
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E D UC ATI O N San Francisco Opera Education offers enriching educational opportunities in the arts to the broader community and Bay Area educational institutions. The diverse array of programs includes Opera Arts Resources in Action (ARIA) for K–12 students and educators, university programs for young adults, workshops tailored for either adults or families and free movie screenings for communities at large.
OPERA ARIA*
C O MM EN TS
Total original mini-operas created by classrooms: 66
“Sincerely, the Opera process integrated everything anyone could ever hope to teach children. I am still emotional … when I think about what participating in Opera ARIA this year gave to my students and me.”
Total schools & universities participated in learning opportunities: 414 Total students served: 18,622 Total opera performers, production staff & teaching artists employed: 39
FINAL DRESS REHEARSALS* Number available: 10 Total schools attended at least one rehearsal: 50 Total students, educators, and chaperones attended: 5,182
-Susie Siegel, Kindergarten teacher, Y i c k W o El e m e n t a r y School, San Francisco
OTHER* Total adults attended workshops & symposiums: 456 Total family members attended workshops & movie screenings: 3,547 Total adults attended pre-opera talks: 42,600
Photo by Joey Castañeda
*data collected from school year 2013–14
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A D L ER F EL L OW SH I P PR OG R A M Founded in 1977 as the San Francisco Affiliate Artists Opera Program, Adler Fellowships are two-year performanceoriented residencies for the most advanced young artists. This internationally acclaimed education and training program operates under the auspices of San Francisco Opera Center led by San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley and Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald. In the 2013–14 Season, the Adler Fellows were involved in all eight main season performances and filled all but one of the principal roles in The Barber of Seville for Families. In addition to multiple concert and community performances, the Adlers also participated in masterclasses with Greer Grimsley, Steven Blier and San Francisco Opera fight director Jonathan Rider.
2014 ADLER FELLOWS Erin Johnson, soprano Jacqueline Piccolino, soprano Maria Valdes, soprano Zanda Švēde, mezzo-soprano AJ Glueckert, tenor Hadleigh Adams, baritone Efraín Solís, baritone Philippe Sly, bass-baritone Noah Lindquist, coach & accompanist Sun Ha Yoon, coach & accompanist
“Thursday night’s extraordinary event … was the most impressive and consistent display of vocal artistry I’ve ever heard a collection of Adlers give in one place at one time. There are nine young singers in the current crop … every one of them without exception seemed poised to go on to dazzling stardom.” -San Francisco Chronicle
Photo by Kristen Loken
2013 ADLER FELLOWS Marina Harris, soprano Erin Johnson, soprano Laura Krumm, mezzo-soprano Renée Rapier, mezzo-soprano AJ Glueckert, tenor Chuanyue Wang, tenor Hadleigh Adams, baritone Joo Won Kang, baritone Ao Li, baritone Philippe Sly, bass-baritone Robert Mollicone, coach & accompanist Sun Ha Yoon, coach & accompanist
R EV I EW S
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C O M PANY S P ON S OR S Norby Anderson Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Franklin and Catherine Johnson Edmund W. and Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Fund Steven M. Menzies Bernard and Barbro Osher Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Phyllis C. Wattis Endowment Funds Diane B. Wilsey
R EV I EW S “A significant new work, Dolores Claiborne was a triumph for all concerned … ”
S E A SO N S P ONS OR
C OR P OR AT E PA RT NER S
-Opera News
San Francisco Opera is supported, in part, by a grant from Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund.
P R OD U CTI ON S P ON S OR S MEFISTOFELE Company Sponsors John A. & Cynthia Fry Gunn are proud to support this production. This production is made possible, in part, by Opening Weekend Grand Sponsor Diane B. Wilsey, the Thomas Tilton Production Fund and Thomas F. & Barbara A. Wolfe. Major support for this production is also provided by the Great Interpreters of Italian Opera Fund established by Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem. Nicola Luisotti’s appearance made possible by Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem, Chairs, Amici di Nicola of Camerata. Mr. Abdrazakov’s, Ms. Racette’s and Mr. Vargas’s appearances are made possible by a gift to the Great Singers Fund by Joan & David Traitel. Additional support for this production is provided by Affiliate Sponsors Robert & Laura Cory.
Photo by Cory Weaver
DOLORES CLAIBORNE The world premiere of Dolores Claiborne is made possible, in part, by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Koret Foundation and Tad & Dianne Taube. Additional support is provided by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and by Affiliate Sponsors Carol & Dixon Doll and Charles D. Goodman.
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FALSTAFF Company Sponsors John A. & Cynthia Fry Gunn are proud to support this production. This production is made possible, in part, by Leslie & George Hume and The Bernard Osher Endowment Fund. Nicola Luisotti’s appearance made possible by Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem, Chairs, Amici di Nicola of Camerata. Mr. Terfel’s appearance is made possible by a gift to the Great Singers Fund by Joan & David Traitel. Additional support for this production is provided by Affiliate Sponsors Mr. & Mrs. Stephen S. Kahng and Ms. Christina Warren & Dr. Elizabeth DeBruin.
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN This production is made possible by the Phyllis C. Wattis Fund for New Productions.
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Company Sponsors John A. & Cynthia Fry Gunn are proud to support this production. This production is made possible, in part, by San Francisco Opera Guild and Chevron. Additional support for this production is provided by Affiliate Sponsors Athena & Timothy Blackburn.
SHOW BOAT Company Sponsors John A. & Cynthia Fry Gunn are proud to support this production. This production is made possible, in part, by Roberta & David Elliott and by a generous challenge grant from Maurice Kanbar and Bernard Osher. Ms. Racette’s appearance is made possible by a gift to the Great Singers Fund by Joan & David Traitel. Additional support for this production is provided by Affiliate Sponsors Dr. Susan Kroll & Mr. Mark R. Kroll, Jennifer Coslett MacCready, The Oshman Family Foundation and Chandra & Michael Rudd.
LA TRAVIATA Company Sponsor Jeannik Méquet Littlefield is proud to support this production. This production is made possible, in part, by the Burgess & Elizabeth Jamieson Fund, Koret Foundation, Tad & Dianne Taube and United Airlines. Nicola Luisotti’s appearance made possible by Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem, Chairs, Amici di Nicola of Camerata. Mr. Costello’s and Ms. Pérez’s appearances made possible, in part, by Affiliate Sponsors Bernice & John Lindstrom.
R EV I EW S “[Bryn] Terfel has owned this role for years, and he owns it again at San Francisco Opera, where Falstaff opened Tuesday in a production that bursts with hilarity even as it teaches darker lessons.” -San Jose Mercury News
MADAME BUTTERFLY Nicola Luisotti’s appearance made possible by Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem, Chairs, Amici di Nicola of Camerata. Ms. Racette’s appearance is made possible by a gift to the Great Singers Fund by Joan & David Traitel. Additional support for this production is provided by Affiliate Sponsors Alice Corning & Richard Massey, Betty & Jack Schafer and Sharon & Clark Winslow.
VERDI REQUIEM This performance is made possible, in part, by The Bernard Osher Endowment Fund. Nicola Luisotti’s appearance made possible by Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem, Chairs, Amici di Nicola of Camerata. Mr. Kowaljow’s appearance is made possible by a gift to the Great Singers Fund by Joan & David Traitel. Additional support is provided by Affiliate Sponsors Lisa Erdberg & Dennis Gibbons.
Photo by Cory Weaver
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE FOR FAMILIES This production is made possible, in part, by Soo & Raj Venkatesan. Additional support provided by Jennifer & Jean-Jacques Bienaime, Paula & Bandel Carano, Carol & Dixon Doll, Mrs. Marilyn Dunn, Tobias & Liliana Kunze Briseño, and Brian & Kerith Overstreet.
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SAN FRANCISCO OPERA War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 www.sfopera.com David Gockley General Director Nicola Luisotti Music Director