The 2025-26 season in San Francisco Opera continues to be away for months, but for the final director of firms, Matthew Shilvock, it’s just across the corner.
With complete productions, concert events, special events and more, it is a company that doesn’t rest.
“We are approaching a very deep level,” said Shilvock recently in an interview, “and it is very exciting. This is a crucial time.”
Only reading the season structure is exciting: In addition to a formidable list of special events, including the world premiere of “The Monkey King”, Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang and the long -awaited return of Jake Heggies “Dead Man Walking,” with the Attaching twenty fifth anniversary of his world premiere of San Francisco there are productions by Wagner's “Parsifal”, Verdi's “Rigoletto”, Richard Strauss' “Elektra” and more.
The season opened on September 5, starting with the corporate's annual “Opera Ball”, followed by the opening performance of Verdi's “Rigoletto”, which is run by the music director of company music, Eun Sun Kim. “Dead Man Walking” follows on September 14th by Patrick Summers.
The season “The Monkey King” was in November. Based on stories of the sixteenth century from the Chinese novel “Journey to the West”, Sun Wukong, the title character within the sky is amazed to overcome immortality. The recent work has sparked great interest within the opera world. Shilvock committed to this in 2017, and since then it has been in progress.
“It is astonishing to see that the pregnancy time of new works like this is filled with as much energy and miracles,” he said, “and it is so exciting when you see the fruits of this work.”
Some productions akin to “Parsifal” return to the corporate after a protracted break. “This” Parsifal “was in progress,” said Shilvock, “and I think it was worth waiting for several reasons.” First, it’s a brand new production, he said; Another is resulting in eun Sun Kim. “With the orchestra and the choir, she built a brand new Wagnerian sort of the home. It will take 25 years since we made “Parsifal” to construct on it’s a celebration of the mind and energy. “
“Dead Man Walking” is certainly new energy: Heggies 2000 Opera was a triumph in her world premiere in the San Francisco Opera; Shilvock said it was time to bring it back. “'Dead Man Walking' had so successful of his first performance and in later appearances all around the world. I see it very much as a turning point for the corporate and in addition for the American opera. If you’re thinking that of the form of stories we’ve seen, there was this amazing expression of the deep storytelling in American firms. When we visit these works again, she celebrates the opera, but she also introduces many recent spectators. “
The season also welcomes the return artists like Amartuvshin Ankhbat, who delighted the audience in the opening performance of the company in 2024 by “Un Ballo in Maschera”. Other returning singers are Jamie Barton, Daniela Mack and Elza Vandenhee.
Art organizations in the Bay area and all over the country have seen difficult times in recent years, but now in its tenth season as general director, says Shilvock, there is reason for optimism.
“It is a really complex time for the humanities: a giant challenge, but additionally an ideal opportunity,” he said. “At the moment there is a hunger for art. People want things of importance, focus and depth.
“On the other hand, we have a model that has been tense for decades. The need to find a way forward is currently a very fine needle.
It is a complex time, but I have a big confirmation that there is a great passion for what we do. Here is the opportunity to tell these stories of humanity, and we do. There are major problems that we can solve in front of us, but the core of what we do is still so necessary. “
2025-26 season at a look
September 5: Opera ball, “Rigoletto”
September 7: Opera within the park
14th to September twenty eighth: “Dead man run”
Oct. 25-Nov. 13: “Parsifal”
November 1: Beethoven and Falla concert
14th to thirtieth November: “The Monkey King” (world premiere)
28. May-21. June: June 21: “The hairdresser of Sevilla”
seventh to June 27: “Elektra”
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