Opera is On

SOARING MUSIC. BACKSTAGE STORIES. AWE-INSPIRING VOICES. ARTIST INTERVIEWS. EVEN WORKOUT PLAYLISTS.
AND NOW...STREAMING

The lights may be down at the War Memorial Opera House, but we’re about to turn things up on your screen!

Warm your hearts and watch all of our original mini concerts in our “Odes to Joy” series. Or listen to playlists on Spotify curated by some of our most beloved San Francisco Opera personalities.

Curtain up. Opera is ON.

Stream Past Operas

Donors and subscribers can now stream past productions of Mephistopheles, The Capulets and the Montagues, Moby-Dick, and Lucrezia Borgia for free and on-demand. Log in here or donate $75 to get access.

Today’s Ode to Joy

“Silent Noon” by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Performed by Kyle van Schoonhoven (tenor) and Maureen Zoltek (pianist)

WATCH MORE ODES TO JOY

Opera Aficionado

Opera Aficionado is an exciting, new suite of programs designed for patrons who are passionate about opera. Aficionado provides an opportunity to learn more, dive deeper, and get an inside look at the world of opera.

Register Today

Get Virtual

Check out upcoming virtual events for families, educators, and artists from our Department of Diversity, Equity, and Community!

View Events

The Opera Hour

Opera’s most intriguing performances, curated by opera experts — including our very own general director, Matthew Shilvock.  On the first Sunday of every month at 8pm Pacific, Matthew Shilvock joins Bill Lueth, president of San Francisco’s classical music radio station KDFC, for an hour of hand-picked operas and arias. 

In The Opera Hour, they break down the classics with warmth, charm, and insight — not to mention insider scoops into the local opera scene! Kick back and tune in!

Catch the Broadcast

Opera for the Soul

Enjoy curated playlists from some of our most beloved San Francisco Opera personalities.

For more playlists, tune in on Spotify.

Odes to Joy

If your voice could inspire the world, what would you sing?

San Francisco Opera and current and former resident artists are teaming up to use music to help fight the pain and isolation caused by the coronavirus. Tune in on Instagram to hear Odes to Joy, a video series where we share uplifting songs performed especially for you.

WATCH RECENT ODES TO JOY

From the Blog

May 27, 2020

Secrets & Masks Bel Canto as Drama in Lucrezia Borgia

The premiere of Lucrezia Borgia on December 26, 1833 came at a crucial period in the thirty-six-year-old Gaetano Donizetti’s career. Although he had already accumulated substantial experience writing for the stage—by this point his complete list of operas, including incomplete and unperformed scores, tallied more than forty—the composer was riding the crest of fame that had really begun with the success of his “lyrical tragedy” Anna Bolena three years earlier.

May 27, 2020

Profile: Gaetano Maria Donizetti

Born on November 29, 1797 in Bergamo and baptized Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti, the future composer was the fifth of six siblings. In 1806, Donizetti was admitted to the music school in Bergamo. There, he was guided by Giovanni Simone Mayr, the distinguished Bavarian composer famous for his operas throughout Italy.

May 25, 2020

Director’s Note: Lucrezia Borgia – A Story of Love and the Misogyny of History

To understand the emotions behind the dramatic story line of Lucrezia Borgia, I feel that it is vital to bear in mind the social and historical background of the characters. Despite the fact that Lucrezia Borgia has been known primarily as a beautiful poisoner, there is an excellent case for viewing her as more victim than villain.

Find more stories on the Opera Blog >

Fun & Games

Opera Games

Flex those gray cells and test your opera knowledge opera games created just for you.

HAVE FUN

Zoom Backgrounds

Spice up your Zoom backgrounds with some of your favorite San Francisco Opera views!

ZOOM IT UP

#SFOperaCocktails

Indulge in an opera-themed libation.

GET THE RECIPES