It is a minor shame that the tremendous San Francisco staging of Richard Wagner's Parsifal, currently running at the War Memorial Opera House, had but one Sunday matinee performance. I can't answer the long-running question about Parsifal being a Christian opera or not, but seeing it this past Sunday returned me to those long hours of my religious upbringing, spent in pews and listening to sermons on compassion, suffering and redemption.
To open the 103rd season, San Francisco Opera and The San Francisco Opera Guild presented Opera Ball: Palazzo on Friday, September 5, 2025. The evening included a cocktail reception, dinner, and after-party in San Francisco City Hall, and the opening night performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto. Guests enjoyed the settings themed as an Italian extravaganza in a Renaissance court setting.
Sapphira Cristál hosted the Pride Concert, sharing her thoughts on Pride: "... standing in the full glory of who I am-past, present, and future. It's about celebrating not just my individuality, but also my connection to a powerful, beautiful community that has made space for my authenticity, art, and joy."