SAN FRANCISCO OPERA DAZZLES AUDIENCES AS PART OF FREE COMMUNITY EVENT OPERA IN THE PARK
On Sunday September 8th, thousands of people gathered together in the beautiful open spaces of Robin Williams Meadow for San Francisco Opera’s annual Opera in the Park. Hosted in partnership with The San Francisco Chronicle, Opera in the Park marks a beloved time-honored Bay Area tradition free to all visitors since its inception five decades ago. Opera enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike were treated to an afternoon of arias and ensembles from The San Francisco Opera Orchestra led by Music Director
Eun Sun Kim and performed by the opera stars of the 2024-2025 season.
Amidst the rich tapestry of San Francisco’s cultural scene, Opera in the Park stands distinct. The event originated in 1971 by former San Francisco Opera General Director Kurt Herbert Adler to celebrate the beginning of the new opera season and promote opera for a wider audience. Some of the genre’s most iconic performers have dazzled audiences over the years including Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballé, Marilyn Horne and Renata Scotto. The event has only grown in popularity, now hosting between 5,000 and 10,000 people. Opera in the Park tradition boasts a spectacular finale where audience members sing along to a rousing rendition of brindisi (drinking song) from Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata.
San Francisco has long stood as one of the world’s premier opera destinations. With the onset of the Gold Rush, San Francisco’s opera scene boomed with nearly 5,000 opera performances taking place in the city between 1851 and the 1906 earthquake. San Francisco’s first resident company was established in 1923 by Italian-American Gaetano Merola who had a passion for this enduring musical art-form. In 1932, San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House opened with a performance of Tosca by Giacomo Puccini. The Opera House was built during the Great Depression, a stunning and alluring San Francisco landmark created to commemorate those who served in World War I. To this day, audiences from around the globe flock to the War Memorial Opera House to experience world-class music and theater.
Opera in the Park continues to honor this legacy by offering free music to the San Francisco community. The event was previously held at the band shell in Golden Gate Park until 1991 when it moved to the spacious grounds of Robin Williams Meadow. Each year, crowds bring picnics, blankets, and chairs, and gather on the grass to enjoy a festive afternoon of unforgettable music. Food and beverages are for sale and restrooms as well as accessible seating are available.
San Francisco Opera is proud to be celebrating its 102nd season with a calendar of events not to be missed. This includes riveting performances of The Handmaid’s Tale, Tristan and Isolde, Beethoven 9, Carmen and more. Experience the magic of opera with tickets starting at only $28! To learn more about this season or buy tickets, visit San Francisco Opera’s website.