San Francisco Opera

Founded in 1923, San Francisco Opera is the oldest surviving opera company on the West Coast and a leader in arts education and innovation.

It all started with a Neapolitan conductor, Gaetano Merola, who noticed a hunger for opera in his travels to San Francisco. He was struck with inspiration: Why not give San Francisco its very own resident opera company?

On September 26, 1923, San Francisco Opera came into being with its very first performance: a production of "La Bohème." Ever since, the company has been destination for world-class talent and incomparable artistry.

Come visit us in our historic 1932 home, the War Memorial Opera House, the first municipally owned opera house in the United States — and one of the last Beaux-Arts buildings to be built in the country. Or find us out and about in our community, where we hold free events like Opera in the Park. To learn more, please visit sfopera.com.