San Francisco Opera’s 2025-26 season continues to be months away, however for firm Basic Director Matthew Shilvock, it’s proper across the nook.
With full productions, live shows, particular occasions and extra, it is a firm that doesn’t relaxation.
“We’re approaching a very deep level,” Shilvock mentioned in a current interview, “and it’s very exciting. This is a pivotal time.”
Simply studying the season lineup is thrilling: along with a powerful checklist of particular occasions, together with the world premiere of “The Monkey King,” by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang; and the long-awaited return of Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking,” marking the landmark twenty fifth anniversary of its San Francisco world premiere; there are productions of Wagner’s “Parsifal,” Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Richard Strauss’ “Elektra,” and extra.
The season opens Sept. 5, starting with the corporate’s annual “Opera Ball,” adopted by the opening evening efficiency of Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” carried out by firm music director Eun Solar Kim. “Dead Man Walking” follows on Sept. 14, carried out by Patrick Summers.
In November, the season boasts “The Monkey King.” Primarily based on Sixteenth-century tales from the Chinese language novel “Journey to the West,” the title character, Solar Wukong, wreaks havoc on the heavens in a bid for immortality. The brand new work has garnered a lot curiosity within the opera world; Shilvock dedicated to it in 2017, and it’s been within the works ever since.
“It’s amazing to see the gestation period of new works like this one, which is filled with so much energy and wonder,” he mentioned, “and it’s so exciting when you see the fruits of these labors.”
Some productions, reminiscent of “Parsifal,” are returning to the corporate after an extended hiatus. “This ‘Parsifal’ has been in the works,” mentioned Shilvock, “and I do think it was worth the wait, for several reasons.” One, it’s a brand new manufacturing, he mentioned; one other is Eun Solar Kim conducting. “She’s been building a new Wagnerian style of the house with the orchestra and chorus. It’ll be 25 years since we did ‘Parsifal,’ so to build up to that is a celebration of spirit and energy.”
“Dead Man Walking” can also be sure to generate new power: Heggie’s 2020 opera was a triumph in its world premiere at San Francisco Opera; Shilvock mentioned it’s time to convey it again. “’Dead Man Walking’ had such success from its first performance, and in subsequent performances around the world. I see it very much as a turning point for the company and also for American opera; when you think of the kinds of stories we’ve seen, there’s been this amazing outpouring of deep storytelling in American companies. When we revisit these works, it celebrates the opera, but also introduces it to many new audience members.”
The season additionally welcomes return artists together with Amartuvshin Ankhbat, who wowed audiences within the firm’s 2024’s opening evening efficiency of “Un Ballo in Maschera”; different returning singers embody Jamie Barton, Daniela Mack, and Elza Vandenheever.
Arts organizations within the Bay Space and across the nation have seen exhausting instances in recent times, however now in his tenth season as normal director, Shilvock says there’s motive for optimism.
“It’s a very complex time for the arts: one of great challenge but also great opportunity,” he mentioned. “There’s a hunger for art at the moment. People want things of meaning, focus and depth.
“On the flip side, we have a model that’s been getting more strained for decades. The need to find a path forward is a very fine needle to thread at the moment.
It’s a complex time, but I take a huge amount of reassurance that there’s a huge passion for what we do. There’s an opportunity here to tell these stories of humanity, and that’s what we do. There are big issues to solve ahead of us, but the core of what we do is still so needed.”
2025-26 SEASON AT A GLANCE
Sept. 5: Opera Ball, “Rigoletto”
Sept. 7: Opera within the Park
Sept. 14-28: “Dead Man Walking”
Oct. 25-Nov. 13: “Parsifal”
Nov. 1: Beethoven and Falla live performance
Nov. 14-30: “The Monkey King” (world premiere)
Could 28-June 21: “The Barber of Seville”
June 7-27: “Elektra”
Subscriptions: $139-$2,580; sfopera.com
