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San Francisco Opera

4.1 (246 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

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Parsifal Stage
Lukas S.

My wife introduced me to the Opera this year, to which I'm eternally thankful. We've been to four or five performances so far and are having a blast. The sound is good, the sets are awesome, the dancing and singing is amazing. I only wish the chairs were a bit better. At least have the chair armrests liftable if nothing else. The staff is nice and polite. The building is easy to get in and out of, with plenty of available parking options nearby. There is a bar and a restaurant (though we have not eaten there, seems too rushed to gulp down a meal during an intermission). We've been late to one show and although you cannot be seated, there are several nice options for viewing. They also have a subscriber program where you can book flexible tickets at a discount, which is pretty sweet.

Haiyang H.

Brought kiddos over for nutcracker. It is a beautiful opera house with so many details throughout. They do have strict rule about food consumption inside the opera house. I found folks helping out here to be way more serious as compared to people at symphony (more cheerful and helpful). We sat on the highest level to be close to my daughters' classmates. Most people dress up here. So it was good to do some minor people watching. When the show just started, there was one person came in a bit late and there was quite a stir about who to sit where. There was a lady working there directing folks to seat and was asking a mother to leave her seat even though she was seating at her seat. It was very disturbing and not respectful. That working lady also insisted the guy to sit at an open seat even though folks stated that the seat was taken (someone was seating there and was there for over half of the show). It was loud and disrespectful. I found that extremely unprofessional and took way longer than it is supposed to be. At the end, it was sorted out. The audience basically figured out and told her what to do. I found that to be unexpected and do not respect the audience in general. Besides that, the show was wonderful. The sets are fascinating, performance was beautiful, and the music was on point. The kids and parents all had a good time. Snacks are okay too at the bar. We would like to come back again but would sit at lower levels. Fingers crossed that we don't have to run into the same lady working there....

Henry L.

You can come here for many great performances. We saw the Nutcracker and sat in the upper level seats. If you are seated at a higher level, you will want to bring binoculars so you can view the details of the performance. The production is so amazing. The opera has many mechanisms to help with setting up various stage scenes. You might also see some "cannon fire" in a few of the performances. My suggestion for seats is to be seated at least 15 min before the show starts, to get comfortable in the cozy seating spaces.

A beautiful historic, elegant gem in SF @ Civic Center. Here is the floor map
Jacqueline S.

Part of the community Benefits in the SF Bay Area are the arts: museums, Ballet, Opera, Symphony and so many other music and art venues! Most have free or low cost days for the locals. We are enjoying our first Opera in SF after seeing many other all over the USA and Europe-- lol- so glad to be here. The Elixir of Love ( really a lousy Bordeaux in a small bottle) a comedy - what else? Silly, flirty, suspenseful, marriage proposals... One beautiful melody after another. And Happily ever After!! Marsha Green is giving us a pre- discussion of the thrill of this Opera!! Worth coming early! This is such a beautiful building- it is worth exploring and looking at the architecture.

Jeannie P.

Went there for the last opera of the season Carmen. The building is so historic and grand. The inside decor is so magnificent. The whole experience was incredible! I enjoyed the show so much. The seat was comfortable. I am a huge opera fan

Sunil R.

I never thought I would say this...I love the opera. For me, the subtitles make all the difference. The shows are incredible, the most recent one I saw was Madame Butterfly yesterday. The venue is fantastic and awe-inspiring. It's a great date spot and a chance to wear your best clothes and take in some culture. Give it a chance if you have not already.

Il Trovatore 10/1/23
Helen L.

It doesn't matter where you sit. It's spectacular. The singing and the orchestra, and the arias. Bravo. Glad they had plenty of women's restrooms. The line for snacks and coffee was very long. Seat numbers were a bit confusing. From center, right is even numbers. Left, odd numbers.

Fidelio 2021
Kris B.

My first Opera in 20 years - what a treat! My friends had an extra ticket and invited me to a lovely time in The City. Delicious sushi at O-Toro followed by a brisk walk to Opera Plaza. We showed vax cards and IDs outside and then quickly into the beautiful War Memorial Opera House. Stunning interior and it's exciting to see people still dress up for an evening on the town. Fidelio is Beethoven's only opera and features a strong female lead. Leonore dresses as a male prison guard to save her husband from a political prison. It's hard to believe it first premiered in 1805 because it it seems timely, even today. The heroine Leonore/Fidelio starred Elza van den Heever and she was fantastic in the role. After the performance the Music Director Eun Sun Kim got flowers and a standing ovation from her orchestra. It was really moving. Outside there were some children playing classical music - ages looked like 8 to 14. So talented and very smart to be busking outside the Opera with all those wealthy patrons.

Lobby
Herm B.

Great performance but so hot stuffy throughout the entire performance. They need to be better at using the ventilation.

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World class opera! I've been a subscriber for 30 years, and I've only walked out once... Otherwise mesmerized‼

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Ask the Community - San Francisco Opera

Review Highlights - San Francisco Opera

I have series tickets, and SF Opera hosts one of my favorite parties in the city - the SF Opera Encounter experience.

Mentioned in 41 reviews

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San Francisco Ballet - Eugene Onegin

San Francisco Ballet

4.2(318 reviews)
0.1 miHayes Valley

The San Francisco Nutcracker Ballet is a family holiday tradition…read more The beauty of this is over the years they have carefully crafted children's programs for the ballet itself with less solos so the fidgety ones can remain rapt at the toys, the rat king, and of course the nutcracker on stage. We've attended children's performances where there was a post-ballet party with refreshments and opportunity for the kids to be photographed with the characters from the ballet.. What makes this so special for me and my family is their introductionto the arts. As children my girls looked forward to dressing up to attend this every year. Now, as adults, we continue the family tradition of attending as a family including my daughters spouses. Someday I will go with my daughters when they take their children to the Nutcracket Ballet as I once took them when they were little. My family looks forward to this every year, and every year we are delighted! Thank you to everyone at the SF Ballet for making this a memorable, meaningful, really special family tradition. Fiver, perfection.

WOW! They really know what they're doing, and I guess my expectations wouldn't be anything less for…read moreone of the top 3 companies in the country. We saw The Nutcracker and it was absolutely stunning. From the costume details to the set details. It's all there, but then throw in the precision from the ballet dancers l, plus the love orchestra, and you won't be able to look away. Can't wait to see another show!

Photos
San Francisco Ballet - Sitting so close to the ceiling this time. Good view of the entire stage, but felt a bit far away. Had center balcony seats on this visit.

Sitting so close to the ceiling this time. Good view of the entire stage, but felt a bit far away. Had center balcony seats on this visit.

San Francisco Ballet - Frankenstein Encore, May 1, 2025 Orchestra G.

Frankenstein Encore, May 1, 2025 Orchestra G.

San Francisco Ballet - Curtain Call - Nutcracker 2025

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Curtain Call - Nutcracker 2025

Cowell Theater

Cowell Theater

4.3(20 reviews)
2.2 miMarina/Cow Hollow

More than 20 years ago, I worked as a stagehand and also attended a couple of shows in this…read moretheatre. I really enjoyed the location and found the house to be comfortable and intimate. But it's been more than 20 years, so I don't know the current situation.

Beautiful Theater on San Francisco Pier Across From Alcatraz…read more SITREP I was lucky to catch the exceptional, the eclectic, the very eccentric dark musical-dance production "SHADOW DANCE" at the Cowell Theater, and .... *MIND BLOWN* ARIELLAH DARKER STILL www.ariellah.com The yearly production of Shadow Dance is the creative brain child of Ariellah Darker Still, a talented and mystical fusion belly-dancer based in Oakland, California. Taught by the legendery belly dancer Rachel Brice (a collaborator with the industrial rock Nine Inch Nails), Ariellah has carved a niche into the belly dancing realm that traverses into even darker realms still of Dark mystical arts, the fears that convulse the human mind, and the angelic & demonic figures that warp our spiritual dimensions. SHADOWDANCE This mystic view of our earthly dimension is interpreted by her and her collaborators by the artistic expressions of DANCE and MUSIC. SHADOWDANCE is culmination these wondrous & haunting expressions and is a showcase of all these talented performance artists. COWELL THEATER The expansive realm of the Cowell Theater is a perfect venue for Shadow Dance. The spacious stage is a wonderful playground for all the performers. * Aerial artists on silk fabric to Suspension artists chained to piercings on penetrating their back, all rely on the dependable cables extending from the ceiling of the stage's heights; * Various configurations of different dance troupes find more than ample space on which to dance on this suspended stage; SEATING Very traditional old-school theater-style seats. Flip-up. People have to squeeze by forcing you to stand up. No cup holders. Not roomy. Primitive. In this day & age of amphitheater-style seating, or reclining seating in the IMAX and/or XD theaters, the seating here is at most very basic. LAVATORY Very contemporary and modern. There are two different bathrooms, very roomy, complete with many stalls - both unisex, shared by all. PARKING Limited and Pricy. You need to pay for your spots. We saw tow trucks towing cars away that did not pay obviously pay for their spots at the machines. THE LOWDOWN A very solid theater for enjoying a great performance. Just know the rules for everything else having to do with this theater.

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Cowell Theater
Cowell Theater - ShadowDance - Nov 16, 2019

ShadowDance - Nov 16, 2019

Cowell Theater - ShadowDance - Nov 16, 2019

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ShadowDance - Nov 16, 2019

San Francisco Opera at the Ballpark - Live cast!

San Francisco Opera at the Ballpark

4.5(29 reviews)
1.8 miSouth Beach

First time attending one of these free events! You gotta love San Francisco and the cultural…read morefreebies for all audiences! I could not believe my ears when a friend of mine mentioned Carmen the opera (I am usually asked if my name is Carmen like the opera and I have to answer that no, just like my mom) and the AT&T ballpark where until Saturday I only saw from outside. Kudos to the organization, to move around that many people without chaos is a skill, plus the sync with the SF Opera was perfect, even considering we were at a massive park and not in a more intimate covered setting. I went for the experience but I should have known better about the extremely cold SF summer nights. I was freezing with my mini dress. Gladly, my friend was carrying a blanket that we share and later served as coat. That was the worst part for me, including the long lines to the toilet. As per the performance, everybody did an awesome job, talented singers and performers...I just like my classic Spanish style Carmen and not this strange pastiche. I understand it is cool to deviate and modernize the script and the scenario, but calling the ladies 'bitches' in the subtitles was a little bit too much. Plus did not like the clothes, make up and the overall mise-en-scene. And, oh, so many kids in there too. For some girls in my group that were not familiar with the opera Carmen plot, I had to give a succinct explanation as they did not get the whole story.

I love Opera at the Ballpark! They did La Traviata this year and it was the opera that Richard…read moreGere took Julia Roberts to on a helicopter from NY to SF in Pretty Woman! Those parts in the movie rang familiar while watching the simulcast at the opera. Get there early with early admission at 6:30 p.m. (free online!). We brought tons of snacks and sealed drinks. Make sure you bring a winter jacket, gloves and scarf. And fleece blankets. It gets so cold. It starts at 8p and lasts until about 11p. To see the jumbotron, you can't really sit below the awning where it is warmer like you do at the Giants games. So you will be cold if you have a good seat. Lots of people left early since it was too cold. Bring all your snacks since all they sell is junk food. And bundle up! Get here early. There were over 26,000 people there last weekend.

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San Francisco Opera at the Ballpark - View from the field, La Traviata, July 5, 2014

View from the field, La Traviata, July 5, 2014

San Francisco Opera at the Ballpark - Don Giovanni July 30, 2017 excellent story. 23,000 people watching the live production, very cold at night bring winter wear.

Don Giovanni July 30, 2017 excellent story. 23,000 people watching the live production, very cold at night bring winter wear.

San Francisco Opera at the Ballpark - Yummy!  I had to get the famous garlic fries of goodness.

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Yummy! I had to get the famous garlic fries of goodness.

San Francisco Lyric Opera - Tales of Hoffman (9/07), with M Bell (Crespel), R Byrne (Hoffman), & R Gomez (Dr. Miracle)

San Francisco Lyric Opera

4.6(5 reviews)
2.1 miMarina/Cow Hollow

We live in a city with TWO professional opera companies. TWO. Putting on great shows at price…read morepoints that let everyone enjoy reasonably good opera. For that we should all be proud. I'm proud of Lyric Opera as a presenter of accessible offerings of opera with some really good production designs, soloists, and overall casts. I've seen several very nice productions while the company was at the Legion of Honor, including a nice Lucia di Lammermoor and a good Tales of Hoffmann. Now that they've moved to Fort Mason, I'm looking forward to a slightly easier-to-get-to theater, and I certainly can't wait to see a certain member of the chorus in Rigoletto. I've had inside reports that the solists are excellent. No matter what show you catch, enjoy Lyric Opera for bringing big opera to small theatres at even smaller prices, with lots of local talent. Keeping opera alive and kicking in the 21st century is reason enough for 5 stars--the great entertainment to be had is pure gravy, to use a decidedly non-highbrow term.

Let's face it. I have champagne taste on a Pabst Blue Ribbon budget…read more I love opera but am never willing to pay the outrageous prices at the "big" opera house. Sure, I'll go if you're treating. And I will thoroughly frickin' enjoy it, so long as it isn't some new fangled, artsy production. But I'll still go, especially if you have box seats. That said, the free tickets are few and far between and I can't get student rush tickets anymore with my dusty college ID. The "little" opera or SF Lyric Opera has always been a bright spot in my dynamic City life. (Of course, so are the metallic guys, the panhandlers with creative signs, BART, and many other less romantic things.) But SF Lyric Opera really makes the arts accessible. The ticket prices and the venue are key. No, they don't have the world's most celebrated tenor or the international divas, but they do have amazingly talented opera singers that anyone can enjoy for less than the price of dinner and drinks at any trendy spot. I would have given them five stars if it weren't for their recent move from the lovely Gould theater at the Legion of Honor to the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason. I haven't actually been to a performance there, so I will amend my review as necessary once I do. But the Gould is the most delightful little venue. You might think that Marie Antoinette invited you to a command performance, and there isn't a bad seat in the house. Wherever they may go, though, I will follow. The company is wonderfully talented and even with the bigger venue, you will have an experience you couldn't get at the "big" opera. That is unless you don't mind dropping a couple Benjamins for a seat. And if that's you, you probably wouldn't mind if I tag along...

Photos
San Francisco Lyric Opera - Turn of the Screw (5/08), with B Fisher (Miles), K Moss (Grose), A Strauss (Governess), & M Matej (Flora)

Turn of the Screw (5/08), with B Fisher (Miles), K Moss (Grose), A Strauss (Governess), & M Matej (Flora)

San Francisco Lyric Opera - Tales of Hoffman (9/07), with K Growdon (Niklausse) & R Byrne (Hoffman)

Tales of Hoffman (9/07), with K Growdon (Niklausse) & R Byrne (Hoffman)

San Francisco Lyric Opera - Turn of the Screw (5/08), with L Bruckmann (Jessel), T Costerisan (Quint), & B Fisher (Miles)

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Turn of the Screw (5/08), with L Bruckmann (Jessel), T Costerisan (Quint), & B Fisher (Miles)

San Francisco Opera - theater - Updated May 2026

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