San Francisco Opera Announces 2016-17 Season

San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley and Music Director Nicola Luisotti today announced the Company's 2016-17 Season repertory and roster of international guest artists, conductors and creative teams scheduled to appear at the War Memorial Opera House, as well as initial programming for SF Opera Lab 2017 presentations at the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera's Taube Atrium Theater. The Company's 94th Season will also mark Matthew Shilvock's inaugural year as San Francisco Opera's new general director, succeeding his mentor and internationally respected impresario, David Gockley, who will step down on July 31, 2016.

David Gockley said: "When I informed the board that I would be retiring after the 2015-16 Season, they gave me the responsibility to program the '16-17 and '17-18 Seasons. I have done this, as usual, in close consultation with the Opera's senior staff, particularly General Director Designate Matthew Shilvock. The new season features a world premiere, three new productions and five revivals with fresh new casting. I am especially excited about the new Aida production by Francesca Zambello with designs by Los Angeles-based graffiti and visual artist RETNA. Complementing the exciting and bigger works on the War Memorial Opera House stage is the new 299-seat Taube Atrium Theater, which gives us the opportunity to offer aggressive and/or unique intimate programming. Ted Hearne's provocative modern-day oratorio, The Source, and Poulenc's La Voix humaine starring the astonishing Anna Caterina Antonacci are prime examples of what we hope to offer at the Taube each season."

Nicola Luisotti, who will begin his eighth year as San Francisco Opera Music Director in 2016-17, will lead the Company's opening night in a gala performance on Friday, September 9 of Andrea Chénier, staged in a new and lavish 18th-century period production by Sir David McVicar. Maestro Luisotti will collaborate with director Francesca Zambello for a new and bold interpretation of Aida opening November 5, and will return to launch San Francisco Opera's summer season on May 31 with Rigoletto in a reconceived staging by debuting director Rob Kearley. Luisotti will be on the podium to conduct San Francisco Opera's annual and popular San Francisco Opera in the Park concert at Golden Gate Park's Sharon Meadow on Sunday, September 11.

Highlights of San Francisco Opera's international season include Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chénier featuring the Company debuts of South Korean tenor Yonghoon Lee, Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi, Georgian baritone George Gagnidze and American mezzo-soprano J'nai Bridges in a McVicar co-production from London's Royal Opera House, conducted by Music Director Nicola Luisotti. Also next season is the world premiere of composer and co-librettist Bright Sheng'sDream of the Red Chamber, an operatic treatment of Cao Xueqin's celebrated 18th-century Chinese novel setting an English-language text by co-librettist and Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, staged by preeminent Taiwanese director Stan Lai and designed by Academy Award-winning art director Tim Yip, featuring an all-Asian cast conducted by George Manahan. It is followed by the Company debut of renowned Los Angeles visual and graffiti artist RETNA, artistic designer for a new Francesca Zambello production of Verdi's ancient Egyptian opera Aida starring soprano Leah Crocetto, tenor Brian Jagde, mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Semenchuk and baritone George Gagnidze, conducted by Nicola Luisotti. And famed French director Laurent Pelly's whimsical production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale marks the Company debut of tenor Lawrence Brownlee, along with San Francisco Opera veterans, bass-baritone Maurizio Muraro, soprano Heidi Stober and baritone Lucas Meachem, conducted by Giuseppe Finzi.

The War Memorial Opera House will welcome revival presentations of Janá?ek's The Makropulos Case, Puccini's Madama Butterfly and La Bohème, and new stagings of the Company's productions of Verdi's Rigoletto and Mozart's Don Giovanni. San Francisco Opera will present 68 performances of nine operas in addition to various concerts, recitals and works presented by SF Opera Lab at the Taube Atrium Theater and other Bay Area locations.

Beginning Monday, January 11 at 1 p.m. PST, season tickets will go on sale to current and new subscribers, offering the general public the opportunity to subscribe, save and reserve seats for this memorable opera season. Tickets for 2017 SF Opera Lab performances at the Taube Atrium Theater will go on sale to subscribers beginning this spring. For complete 2016-17 Season information, visit sfopera.com.

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA'S 2016-17 SEASON

Andrea Chénier - Umberto Giordano
September 9-30, 2016
Giordano's passionate tale of liberty and love in the French Revolution opens the season in a lavish period production directed by Sir David McVicar, with Music Director Nicola Luisotticonducting the powerful verismo score. Yonghoon Lee, an "outstanding tenor with a melting sound" (The New York Times), makes his San Francisco Opera debut in the title role. Also making Company debuts are the exciting Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi as Maddalena, the young aristocrat who loses everything but her love for Chénier, and the commanding Georgian baritoneGeorge Gagnidze as Gérard, the servant who rises to become a revolutionary leader. American mezzo-soprano J'nai Bridges, a veteran of numerous Lyric Opera of Chicago performances, will make her first San Francisco Opera appearances as Bersi. Last seen here in 1992, Andrea Chénier is presented in a new co-production with Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing. London's Independent praised McVicar's staging, which debuted last year at the Royal Opera House, as a "scrupulously researched and exquisitely realised production."

Dream of the Red Chamber?????- Bright Sheng and David Henry Hwang
September 10-29, 2016
18th-century Qing Dynasty writer Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber-considered one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature-is the source for this highly anticipated world premiere by renowned Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng. Also known as The Story of the Stone, the opera focuses on a love triangle between the young nobleman Bao Yu and two very different women: Dai Yu, his spiritual soulmate, and Bao Chai, a beautiful heiress. The opera in two acts features an English-language libretto by the composer and Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly). Iconic Taiwanese stage director Stan Lai, one of the most celebrated playwrights/directors in Asia, joins forces with Chinese production designerTim Yip, the Academy Award-winning designer of Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to bring this visionary work to life. A cast of established and rising Asian singers will star, led by Chinese tenor Yijie Shi (Bao Yu), South Korean soprano Pureum Jo (Dai Yu) and Chinese mezzo-soprano and current San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow Nian Wang (Bao Chai). American maestro George Manahan, known for his advocacy of new works, conducts the lyrical and nostalgic score.

Don Pasquale - Gaetano Donizetti
September 28-October 15, 2016
Sparkling with virtuosic singing and playful humor, Donizetti's Don Pasquale returns to San Francisco Opera after an absence of over 30 years. Known for "refreshing every role he touches" (The New Yorker), American tenor Lawrence Brownlee makes his long-awaited main stage Company debut as Ernesto alongside Italian bass-baritone Maurizio Muraro in the title role and San Francisco favorites soprano Heidi Stober as Norina and baritone Lucas Meachem as Dr. Malatesta; Meachem shares the role with Adler Fellow Edward Nelson, who sings Dr. Malatesta for two of the six performances. Following his acclaimed productions of La Fille du Régiment(2009) and Les Contes d'Hoffmann (2013), director Laurent Pelly returns to the Company for this fanciful new staging, a co-production with Santa Fe Opera and Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu. Giuseppe Finzi conducts the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The San Francisco Opera Education Department will present Exploration Workshops for Families in conjunction with these performances.

The Makropulos Case (V?c Makropulos)- Leoš Janá?ek
October 14-29, 2016
Hailed as "the singer-actress of our time" by Opera News, soprano Nadja Michael-who made her Company debut as an electrifying Salome in 2009-stars as the mysterious and seductive Emilia Marty in this revival of one of Janá?ek's most intriguing operas. Joining San Francisco Opera for the first time with this assignment, conductor Mikhail Tatarnikov, music director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, one of Russia's oldest opera halls, leads a cast that also features tenorScott Quinn (Albert Gregor), baritone Stephen Powell (Baron Jaroslav Prus), and bass-baritoneDale Travis (Dr. Kolenatý). Director Olivier Tambosi, who also directs Jen?fa in June 2016, brings his inventive production back to the War Memorial Opera House stage.

Aida - Giuseppe Verdi
ovember 5-December 6, 2016
Verdi's grand Egyptian epic is presented in a bold new staging by director Francesca Zambelloinspired by contemporary L.A. visual artist RETNA, who makes his Company debut as production artistic designer. One of today's most celebrated graffiti artists, RETNA combines elements of traditional street art with hieroglyphics and Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy. SopranoLeah Crocetto, acclaimed for her performances as Luisa Miller last fall, and tenor Brian Jagdeboth make their respective role debuts as the Ethiopian slave girl Aida and the military hero Radames. Conducted by Nicola Luisotti, the cast also features Russian mezzo-sopranoEkaterina Semenchuk (Amneris), Georgian baritone George Gagnidze (Amonasro) and American bass Raymond Aceto (Ramfis). San Francisco Opera Resident Conductor Jordi Bernàcer leads the final performance. The production team also includes set designer Michael Yeargan, costume designer Anita Yavich and lighting designer Mark McCullough. Aida is a co-production with Washington National Opera and Seattle Opera.

Madama Butterfly - Giacomo Puccini
November 6-December 4, 2016
Puccini's ever-popular opera pairs soprano Lianna Haroutounian as Cio-Cio-San with exciting young Russian tenor Maxim Aksenov as Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton. Haroutounian made her memorable Company debut as Floria Tosca in 2014. Of that performance the San FranciscoChronicle said:"One of the great aspects of [Haroutounian's] phenomenal San Francisco Opera debut was the way she turned her musical gifts to the service of that conception. You could listen to her singing Puccini's music all night long, and marvel at the beauty, precision and power that she packed into every measure of the performance." Rounding out the cast are mezzo-soprano and San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow Zanda Šv?de (Suzuki), baritone Anthony Clark Evans(Sharpless) and tenor Julius Ahn (Goro). This revival of visual artist Jun Kaneko's "exhilarating" (San Jose Mercury News)and "beautiful and inventive production" (San Francisco Chronicle) is directed by Leslie Swackhamer and conducted by Yves Abel; Jordi Bernàcer conducts the last performance.

Rigoletto - Giuseppe Verdi
May 31-July 1, 2017
Verdi's vivid tale of seduction, betrayal and bitter revenge returns to the repertory with three widely lauded artists heading the cast, led by Hawaiian baritone Quinn Kelsey as the vengeful court jester. Kelsey "could be a Rigoletto for the ages. His richly modulated voice, musical intelligence and dramatic physicality are exactly what the role demands. He gave a stupendous performance..." said Canada's The Globe and Mail. Georgian soprano Nino Machaidze makes her Company debut as Gilda. Machaidze's international career was launched in 2007 with her Marie in La Fille du Régiment at La Scala, followed by her 2008 Salzburg Festival debut as Juliette in a new production of Roméo et Juliette opposite Rolando Villazón, and subsequent debuts at many of the world's major theaters. Tenor Pene Pati, the Samoan-born New Zealander and current San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow, makes his role debut as the philandering Duke.Nicola Luisotti conducts, with the exception of the final performance led by Jordi Bernàcer. The San Francisco Opera production, designed by Michael Yeargan, will be presented in a new staging by director Rob Kearley in his Company debut.

Don Giovanni - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
June 4-30, 2017
Notable Company debuts and an inventive restaging herald the return of Don Giovanni. In his first San Francisco Opera appearance, French conductor Marc Minkowski, known for his outstanding work in opera and with leading European orchestras, leads the dynamic cast. Debuting Italian bass-baritone Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, whose "swaggering confidence and dangerous sex appeal act like a powerful audience magnet" (Los Angeles Times), stars in the title role. Regularly appearing at the world's leading opera houses, Don Giovanni is central to D'Arcangelo's repertory today; in recent seasons, he has performed the role at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper, La Scala, Salzburg Festival and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. D'Arcangelo is joined by Canadian soprano Erin Wall in her first appearance with the Company as Donna Anna, soprano Ana María Martínez (Donna Elvira), bass Marco Vinco(Leporello), tenor Stanislas de Barbeyrac (Don Ottavio), soprano Sarah Shafer (Zerlina) and bass-baritone Michael Sumuel (Masetto). Italian director Jacopo Spirei, winner of the 2012-13 season audience prize for best production at Salzburg Landestheater for his Così fan tutte, makes his San Francisco Opera debut with a reconceived staging of the Company's 2011 production, featuring projections and scenic adaptations by Tommi Brem.

La Bohème - Giacomo Puccini
June 10-July 2, 2017
Puccini's timeless story of love, heartbreak and the fragility of life returns by popular demand. Italian soprano Erika Grimaldi, who debuts with the Company this summer in Carmen, is the consumptive Mimì and Mexican tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz is her star-crossed lover Rodolfo. Soprano Julie Adams will star as Mimì opposite Chacón-Cruz for two performances. The cast also includes Norwegian baritone Audun Iversen, recently seen as Figaro in 2013's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, as Marcello and soprano Ellie Dehn as Musetta. Director John Caird's production, first seen in the 2014-15 Season, is designed by Olivier Award-winning scenic designer David Farley. Farley's setting is conceived as a collage of canvases by the painter Marcello and is inspired by the artistic brilliance and romance of France's Belle Époque. Italian conductor Carlo Montanaroleads the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

SF OPERA LAB 2017 SEASON

THE SOURCE - Ted Hearne and Mark Doten
February 24-26, March 1-3, 2017

"...The Source prompts dinner-table debates and lingers in the mind. It offers a fresh model of how opera and music theater can successfully tackle contemporary issues..." (The New York Times, October 2014)

"Hurling from propulsive small-ensemble chamber rock to eerie Auto-Tuned ruminations, Mr. Hearne's oratorio about Chelsea Manning and WikiLeaks doesn't aim to score easy political points. Instead it does what great art should: It pushes you to think and feel about the world in new ways..."The Source" (with a brilliant collage libretto by Mark Doten) is remarkable and essential." (The New York Times on The Source album, released by New Amsterdam Recordsin October 2015)

SF Opera Lab presents The Source, composer Ted Hearne's "ambitious, bewildering, stealthily shattering new oratorio"(The New York Times)about Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley Manning), the US Army private who infamously leaked hundreds of thousands of classified military documents to WikiLeaks in 2010. The work for four singers and an ensemble of seven musicians features a libretto by Mark Doten thatsets Manning's words and primary-source documents, including sections of the classified material known as the Iraq War Logs and the Afghan War Diary. The Source-with production design by Jim Findlay and video design by Jim Findlay and Daniel Fish-was premiered at the BAM Next Wave Festival in October 2014 in a Beth Morrison Production directed by Daniel Fish. Composer, singer and bandleader Ted Hearne (b. 1982) draws on a wide breath of influences ranging across music's full terrain, to create intense, personal and multi-dimensional works. His works include another acclaimed oratorio,Katrina Ballads; a collaboration with hip-hop/soul icon Erykah Badu; and Law of Mosaics for string orchestra. Hearne's recent and upcoming commissions include orchestral works for the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and New World Symphony.

LA VOIX HUMAINE - Francis Poulenc
March 11, 14, 17, 2017

"Ms. Antonacci's remarkable talent is a suspension between artifice and naturalness, theatricality and subtlety. She may be putting on an act, but she's also telling the truth." (The New York Times/La Voix humaine, March 2015)

"[Antonacci] was fully in control of her resources as she applied her enormous palette of vocal colors and inflections to portray, with an almost unbearably lifelike immediacy, a woman losing control...Every syllable in this performance cut to the quick, as did Antonacci's mobile face and astute body language, their communicative power amplified by the close quarters." (Opera News/La Voix humaine, March 2015)

La Voix humaine, Poulenc's searing lyric tragedy from 1959 with a text by Jean Cocteau, is a one-act, one-character monologue about a woman who, rejected by her lover, engages in a farewell phone conversation with him. Renowned Italian soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci, acclaimed for her tour-de-force interpretation of the role, returns to San Francisco Opera following her previous engagements with the Company in Ermione, Norma, Les Troyens and the world premiere of Tutino's Two Women. Accompanying Ms. Antonacci will be her frequent collaborator, "the lucid, sensitive pianist" (The New York Times) Donald Sulzen. This program will include other musical works to be announced at a later date, and is presented in association with SF Performances.

The Source and La Voix humaine are presented as part of SF Opera Lab's second season in the Dianne and Tad Taube Atrium Theater in the Company's new Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera (located in the Veterans Building in San Francisco). SF Opera Lab, the newly formed producing division of San Francisco Opera dedicated to innovative and eclectic programming, launches its inaugural season in March 2016. Additional programming for SF Opera Lab's 2017 season will be announced at a later date. For more information about SF Opera lab, visitsfoperalab.com.

2016-17 SEASON OPENING WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
Opening Night Galas, September 9
Opera in the Park, September 11

San Francisco Opera's 94th Season opens on Friday, September 9 with Andrea Chénier, Umberto Giordano's passionate drama of heroism and sacrifice during the French Revolution. Conducted by Music Director Nicola Luisotti, Andrea Chénier is the U.S. premiere of Sir David McVicar's acclaimed period production and the centerpiece of a spectacular evening complemented by two gala events.

Presented by San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Opera Guild and hosted by co-chairsSandra Farris and Patricia Sprincin, Opera Ball 2016 will indulge guests with a lavish pre-performance reception and sumptuous dinner. After the season-opening performance of Andrea Chénier, guests will enjoy dancing and further celebration. Opera Ball benefits San Francisco Opera and the Opera Guild's many education and community programs.

San Francisco Opera's BRAVO! CLUB-a group of young professionals and opera lovers-also presents its annual Opening Night Gala on September 9.Hosted by event co-chairs Lauren Groffand Kari Lincks, the celebration begins with an elegant pre-performance reception and continues with an after-party and dancing.

The season-opening weekend concludes with San Francisco Opera in the Park on Sunday, September 11 in Golden Gate Park's Sharon Meadow. This free annual concert features artists from the Company's fall 2016 season and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra conducted by Maestro Luisotti.

SPECIAL EVENTS
The Future is Now: Adler Fellows Gala Concert, December 2

San Francisco Opera presents The Future is Now: Adler Fellows Gala Concert, featuring the talented artists from San Francisco Opera Center's prestigious young artist training program, in a special concert of opera scenes and arias with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra at the Herbst Theatre.

High resolution downloadable photographs of 2016-17 Season productions and artists are available at sfopera.com/press. For cast biographies, visit sfopera.com.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION

Subscriptions for San Francisco Opera's 2016-17 Season are priced from $189 to $3,393 for Full Series (8 or 9 operas) and $84 to $1,885 for Half Series (4 or 5 operas); these prices reflect discounts of up to 60% off single ticket prices. Thematically designed Mini Series (3 or 4 operas) start at $105. For travelers, the Out of Town Series offer 2 or 3 operas in a 2-3 day period starting at $66. Subscriptions go on sale to new and renewing subscribers beginning January 11, 2016 at 1 p.m. PST at the San Francisco Opera Box Office by calling (415) 864-3330 or online at sfopera.com.

Single ticketsfor the 2016-17 Season, priced from $26 to $397, will go on sale beginning June 27, 2016. A $1 facility fee is included in Balcony 1, Balcony 2 and Balcony 3 sections. All other sections include a $2 per ticket facility fee.

Tickets for The Source, La Voix humaine and other 2017 SF Opera Lab presentations will go on sale to San Francisco Opera subscribers this spring. Complete ticket information, including single ticket on-sale dates, and additional programming for SF Opera Lab's 2017 season will be announced at a later date.

Please visit sfopera.com for further details, or call the Opera Box Office at (415) 864-3330. San Francisco Opera Box Office hours: Monday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. beginning January 16 (Saturdays phone only). All casts, programs, prices and schedules are subject to change.

San Francisco Opera evening performances at the War Memorial Opera House begin at 7:30 p.m.and matinee performances begin at 2 p.m., with the exception of the September 9 season opening performance of Andrea Chénier, which will begin at 8 p.m.

All War Memorial Opera House performances (except the September 9 season opening) feature an informative Pre-Opera Talk 55 minutes prior to curtain. Pre-Opera Talks are presented free of charge to patrons with tickets for the corresponding performance. Visitsfopera.com/operatalks for more information.

Opera Guild Preview Lectures are scheduled in communities throughout the greater Bay Area by local Guild chapters. The insightful and in-depth presentations familiarize audiences with repertoire from the current season. Admission prices vary. Visit sfopera.com/previews for more information.

Opera Guild Insight Panel discussions feature cast and creative teams from select operas in informal panel discussions (see attached calendar for dates and more information).

OperaVision screens, suspended from the ceiling of the balcony section at selected performances, show close-ups of the action on stage in high-definition video (see attached calendar for OperaVision dates). English subtitles appear at the bottom of each screen. OperaVision is made possible by the Koret/Taube Media Suite.

The War Memorial Opera House is located at 301 Van Ness Avenue. Patrons are encouraged to use public transportation to attend San Francisco Opera performances. The War Memorial Opera House is within walking distance of the Civic Center BART Station and near numerous bus lines, including 5, 21, 47, 49 and the F Market Street. For further public transportation information, visitbart.gov and sfmta.com.

2016-17 COMPANY DEBUTS

Tommi Brem - Projections and Scenic Adaptations, Don Giovanni
J'nai Bridges - Bersi, Andrea Chénier
Lawrence Brownlee - Ernesto, Don Pasquale
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo - Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni
Stanislas de Barbeyrac - Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni
Anthony Clark Evans - Sharpless, Madama Butterfly
George Gagnidze - Carlo Gérard, Andrea Chénier
Karen Chia-Ling Ho - Princess Jia, Dream of the Red Chamber
David Henry Hwang - Co-librettist, Dream of the Red Chamber
Pureum Jo - Dai Yu, Dream of the Red Chamber
Robert Jones - Set Designer, Andrea Chénier
Rob Kearley - Director, Rigoletto
Hyona Kim - Lady Wang, Dream of the Red Chamber
Stan Lai - Director, Dream of the Red Chamber
Yonghoon Lee - Andrea Chénier, Andrea Chénier
Marc Minkowski - Conductor, Don Giovanni
Nino Machaidze - Gilda, Rigoletto
David Pershall - Roucher, Andrea Chénier
Anna Pirozzi - Maddalena di Coigny, Andrea Chénier
RETNA - Artistic Designer, Aida
Bright Sheng - Composer and co-librettist, Dream of the Red Chamber
Fang-Yi Sheu - Choreographer, Dream of the Red Chamber
Yijie Shi - Bao Yu, Dream of the Red Chamber
Jacopo Spirei - Director, Don Giovanni
Mikhail Tatarnikov - Conductor, The Makropulos Case
Jenny Tiramani - Costume Designer, Andrea Chénier
John Wong - Projection Designer, Dream of the Red Chamber
Tim Yip - Production Designer, Dream of the Red Chamber
Erin Wall - Donna Anna, Don Giovanni
Qiulin Zhang - Granny Jia, Dream of the Red Chamber

2016-17 ROLE DEBUTS

J'nai Bridges - Bersi, Andrea Chénier
Leah Crocetto - Aida, Aida
Stanislas de Barbeyrac - Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni
Anthony Clark Evans - Sharpless, Madama Butterfly
George Gagnidze - Carlo Gérard, Andrea Chénier
Yanyu Guo - Aunt Xue, Dream of the Red Chamber
Karen Chia-Ling Ho - Princess Jia, Dream of the Red Chamber
Brian Jagde - Radames, Aida
Pureum Jo - Dai Yu, Dream of the Red Chamber
Hyona Kim - Lady Wang, Dream of the Red Chamber
Edward Nelson - Dr. Malatesta, Don Pasquale
Pene Pati - The Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto
Stephen Powell - Baron Jaroslav Prus, The Makropulos Case
Scott Quinn - Albert Gregor, The Makropulos Case
Sarah Shafer - Zerlina, Don Giovanni
Yijie Shi - Bao Yu, Dream of the Red Chamber
Joel Sorensen - Vítek, The Makropulos Case
Zanda Šv?de - Suzuki, Madama Butterfly and Maddalena, Rigoletto
Nian Wang - Bao Chai, Dream of the Red Chamber
Qiulin Zhang - Granny Jia, Dream of the Red Chamber

# # # # #

2016-17 OPERA SEASON CASTING AND CALENDAR
* San Francisco Opera Debut **U.S. opera debut ? Role Debut
†Current Adler Fellow ? OperaVision Performance
All performances take place at the War Memorial Opera House unless noted.

FALL 2016 OPERA SEASON

ANDREA CHÉNIER by Umberto Giordano
UNITED STATES PRODUCTION PREMIERE
September 9 (8 p.m.), 14?(7:30 p.m.), 17?(7:30 p.m.), 22?(7:30 p.m.), 25?(2 p.m.), 30 (7:30 p.m.),2016

San Francisco Opera co-production with Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London and National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing
Libretto by Luigi Illica
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Italian with English supertitles

First Performance: Milan; March 28, 1896
First SFO Performance: September 27, 1923
Most Recent SFO Performances: 1992 Season

Cast:
Andrea Chénier Yonghoon Lee*
Maddalena di Coigny Anna Pirozzi*
Carlo Gérard George Gagnidze*?
Bersi J'nai Bridges*?
L'Incredibile Joel Sorensen
Mathieu Robert Pomakov
Roucher David Pershall*
Madelon Jill Grove
Countess de Coigny Catherine Cook

Production Team:
Conductor Nicola Luisotti
Director Sir David McVicar
Set Designer Robert Jones*
Costume Designer Jenny Tiramani*
Lighting Designer Adam Silverman
Chorus Director Ian Robertson
Original Choreographer Andrew George
Revival Choreographer Colm Seery

San Francisco Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Chorus and San Francisco Opera Dance Corps

____________________________________________________________________________________________

DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER?????by Bright Sheng*
WORLD PREMIERE
September 10 (7:30 p.m.), 13? (7:30 p.m.), 18? (2 p.m.), 23?(7:30 p.m.), 27 (7:30 p.m.), 29?(7:30 p.m.), 2016

Libretto by David Henry Hwang* and Bright Sheng*
Based on the book by Cao Xueqin

Commissioned by San Francisco Opera

Approximate running time: 3 hours including one intermission
Sung in English with English supertitles

First performance: San Francisco; September 10, 2016

Cast:
Dai Yu Pureum Jo*?
Bao Yu Yijie Shi*?
Bao Chai Nian Wang?
Granny Jia Qiulin Zhang**?
Lady Wang Hyona Kim*?
Princess Jia Karen Chia-Ling Ho*?
Aunt Xue Yanyu Guo?

Production Team:
Conductor George Manahan
Director Stan Lai*
Production Designer Tim Yip*
Lighting Designer Gary Marder
Projection Designer John Wong*
Chorus Director Ian Robertson
Choreographer Fang-Yi Sheu*

San Francisco Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Chorus and San Francisco Opera Dance Corps

____________________________________________________________________________________________

DON PASQUALE by Gaetano Donizetti
PRODUCTION NEW TO SAN FRANCISCO
September 28 (7:30 p.m.); October 2? (2 p.m.), 4 (7:30 p.m.), 7?(7:30 p.m.), 12?(7:30 p.m.),15?(7:30 p.m.), 2016

San Francisco Opera co-production with Santa Fe Opera and Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona
Libretto by Giovanni Ruffini and the composer
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Italian with English supertitles

First Performance: Paris; January 3, 1843
First SFO Performance: September 27, 1929
Most Recent SFO Performances: 1984 Season

Cast:
Don Pasquale Maurizio Muraro
Norina Heidi Stober
Ernesto Lawrence Brownlee*
Dr. Malatesta Lucas Meachem
Dr. Malatesta Edward Nelson?(10/4, 10/7)

Production Team:
Conductor Giuseppe Finzi
Director and Costume Designer Laurent Pelly
Set Designer Chantal Thomas
Associate Director Daniel Dooner
Lighting Designer Duane Schuler
Chorus Director Ian Robertson

San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Chorus

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THE MAKROPULOS CASE by Leoš Janá?ek
October 14?(7:30 p.m.), 18 (7:30 p.m.), 23? (2 p.m.), 26? (7:30 p.m.), 29? (7:30 p.m.), 2016

San Francisco Opera co-production with Finnish National Opera
Libretto by the composer
Based on the play by Karel ?apek
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Czech with English supertitles

First Performance: Brno; December 18, 1926
First SFO Performance: November 19, 1966
Most Recent SFO Performances: 2010-11 Season

Cast:
Emilia Marty Nadja Michael
Albert Gregor Scott Quinn?
Baron Jaroslav Prus Stephen Powell?
Dr. Kolenatý Dale Travis
Vítek Joel Sorensen?
Count Hauk-Sendorf Matthew O'Neill

Production Team:
Conductor Mikhail Tatarnikov*
Director Olivier Tambosi
Production Designer Frank Philipp Schlössmann
Lighting Designer Duane Schuler
Chorus Director Ian Robertson

San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Chorus

____________________________________________________________________________________________

AIDA by Giuseppe Verdi
NEW PRODUCTION
November 5 (7:30 p.m.), 8 (7:30 p.m.), 11 (7:30 p.m.), 14 (7:30 p.m.), 17?(7:30 p.m.), 20? (2 p.m.),23 (7:30 p.m.), 27 (2 p.m.), 30?(7:30 p.m.); December 3? (7:30 p.m.), 6 (7:30 p.m.), 2016

San Francisco Opera co-production with Washington National Opera and Seattle Opera
Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 55 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Italian with English supertitles

First Performance: Cairo; December 24, 1871
First SFO Performance: October 3, 1925
Most Recent SFO Performances: 2010-11 Season

Cast:
Aida Leah Crocetto?
Amneris Ekaterina Semenchuk
Radames Brian Jagde?
Amonasro George Gagnidze
Ramfis Raymond Aceto

Production Team:
Conductor Nicola Luisotti
Conductor Jordi Bernàcer (12/6)
Director Francesca Zambello
Artistic Designer RETNA*
Set Designer Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer Anita Yavich
Lighting Designer Mark McCullough
Chorus Director Ian Robertson

San Francisco Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Chorus and San Francisco Opera Dance Corps

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MADAMA BUTTERFLY by Giacomo Puccini
November 6? (2 p.m.), 9 (7:30 p.m.), 12 (7:30 p.m.), 15 (7:30 p.m.), 18 (7:30 p.m.), 22?(7:30 p.m.),26? (7:30 p.m.), 29? (7:30 p.m.); December 1 (7:30 p.m.), 4 (2 p.m.), 2016

San Francisco Opera co-production with Opera Omaha
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica based on the works of John Luther Long and David Belasco
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Italian with English supertitles

First performance: Milan; February 17, 1904
First SFO performance: September 26, 1924
Most recent SFO Performances: 2013-14 Season

Cast:
Cio-Cio-San Lianna Haroutounian
Lt. B.F. Pinkerton Maxim Aksenov
Suzuki Zanda Šv?de?
Goro Julius Ahn
Sharpless Anthony Clark Evans*?
Bonze Raymond Aceto

Production Team:
Conductor Yves Abel
Conductor Jordi Bernàcer (12/4)
Director Leslie Swackhamer
Production Designer Jun Kaneko
Lighting Designer Gary Marder
Chorus Director Ian Robertson
Choreographer Melissa Noble

San Francisco Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Chorus and San Francisco Opera Dance Corps

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SUMMER 2017 OPERA SEASON

RIGOLETTO by Giuseppe Verdi
May 31 (7:30 p.m.); June 6 (7:30 p.m.), 9 (7:30 p.m.), 14? (7:30 p.m.), 18? (2 p.m.), 22? (7:30 p.m.), 27? (7:30 p.m.); July 1 (7:30 p.m.), 2017

San Francisco Opera production
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes including two intermissions
Sung in Italian with English supertitles

First performance: Venice; March 11, 1851
First SFO performance: October 8, 1923
Most recent SFO Performances: 2012-13 Season

Cast:
Rigoletto Quinn Kelsey
Gilda Nino Machaidze*
The Duke of Mantua Pene Pati?
Maddalena Zanda Šv?de?
Sparafucile Andrea Silvestrelli

Production Team:
Conductor Nicola Luisotti
Conductor Jordi Bernàcer (7/1)
Director Rob Kearley*
Set Designer Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer Constance Hoffman
Lighting Designer Gary Marder
Chorus Director Ian Robertson
Choreographer Lawrence Pech

San Francisco Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Chorus and San Francisco Opera Dance Corps

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DON GIOVANNI by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
June 4? (2 p.m.), 8? (7:30 p.m.), 11?(2 p.m.), 13 (7:30 p.m.), 16 (7:30 p.m.), 21?(7:30 p.m.), 24(7:30 p.m.), 30 (7:30 p.m.), 2017

San Francisco Opera production
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
Approximate running time: 3 hours, 10 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Italian with English supertitles

First performance: Prague; October 29, 1787
First SFO performance: October 10, 1938
Most recent SFO Performances: 2011-12 Season

Cast:
Don Giovanni Ildebrando D'Arcangelo*
Donna Anna Erin Wall*
Donna Elvira Ana María Martínez
Leporello Marco Vinco
Don Ottavio Stanislas de Barbeyrac*?
Zerlina Sarah Shafer?
Masetto Michael Sumuel

Production Team:
Conductor Marc Minkowski*
Director Jacopo Spirei*
Projections and Scenic Adaptations Tommi Brem*
Costume Designer Andrea Viotti
Lighting Designer Gary Marder
Original Set Designer Alessandro Camera
Chorus Director Ian Robertson

San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Chorus

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LA BOHÈME by Giacomo Puccini
June 10 (7:30 p.m.), 15? (7:30 p.m.), 17?(7:30 p.m.), 20 (7:30 p.m.), 23 (7:30 p.m.), 25? (2 p.m.),29? (7:30 p.m.); July 2 (2 p.m.), 2017

San Francisco Opera co-production with Houston Grand Opera and Canadian Opera Company
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa after Henry Murger's novel Scènes de la Vie de Bohème
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Italian with English supertitles

First Performance: Turin; February 1, 1896
First SFO Performance: September 26, 1923
Most Recent SFO Performances: 2014-15 Season

Cast:
Mimì Erika Grimaldi
Mimì Julie Adams (6/20, 6/25)
Musetta Ellie Dehn
Rodolfo Arturo Chacón-Cruz
Marcello Audun Iversen
Colline Scott Conner

Production Team:
Conductor Carlo Montanaro
Director John Caird
Production Designer David Farley
Lighting Designer Michael James Clark
Chorus Director Ian Robertson

San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Chorus

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WINTER/SPRING 2017 SF OPERA LAB SEASON TWO CALENDAR
Dianne and Tad Taube Atrium Theater, Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera, Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

THE SOURCE by Ted Hearne
PRODUCTION NEW TO SAN FRANCISCO
February 24 (8 p.m.), 25 (8 p.m.), 26 (3 p.m.); March 1 (8 p.m.), 2 (8 p.m.), 3 (8 p.m.), 2017

Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and Judy & Allen Freedman, with additional commissioning support from Justus & Helen Schlichting. Residency support provided by MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA.
Libretto by Mark Doten
Approximate running time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Sung in English
First performance of production: BAM 2014 Next Wave Festival; October 22, 2014

Production Team:
Music Director Nathan Koci
Creative and Tour Producer Beth Morrison Projects