Legendary for both their conducting and managerial skills, the two leaders established a formidable institution that is internationally recognized as one of the top opera companies in the world—heralded for its first-rate productions and roster of international opera stars. Following Adler’s tenure, the Company was headed by three visionary leaders: Terence A. McEwen (1982–1988), Lotfi Mansouri (1988–2001), and Pamela Rosenberg (2001–2005). Originally presented over two weeks, the Company’s season now contains approximately seventy-five performances of ten operas between September and July. San Francisco Opera celebrated the 75th anniversary of its performing home, the War Memorial Opera House, in 2007 . The venerable beaux arts building was inaugurated on October 15, 1932 and holds the distinction of being the first American opera house that was not built by and for a small group of wealthy patrons; the funding came thanks to a group of private citizens who encouraged thousands of San Franciscans to subscribe. The War Memorial currently welcomes some 500,000 patrons annually.
Leadership
David Gockley
General Director
David Gockley came to San Francisco from Houston Grand Opera (HGO), the organization that he led for more than three decades. Gockley transformed HGO from a small regional company into one of the leading opera companies in the United States by a bold mixture of traditional and adventurous repertoire...
Nicola Luisotti
Music Director
Italian conductor Nicola Luisotti has been music director of San Francisco Opera since the fall of 2009 and holds the Caroline H. Hume Endowed Chair. This fall he leads Aida, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Madama Butterfly here following the critically acclaimed performances of Il Trovatore, Salome, Otello, and La Fanciulla del West he conducted in his inaugural season