Manon is young, beautiful, and has a taste for the finer things … which is why her family is sending her to a convent. En route to her new life, she falls for the handsome Chevalier des Grieux and they run away to Paris, the city of love. But their youthful ardor is threatened by fatherly disapproval, and Manon finds herself with a choice to make: wait alone in poverty or embrace the wealth of a new lover? 

Manon composer Jules Massenet’s soaring score captures the intensity of young love as Manon and Des Grieux’s relationship endures twist after turn. Manon must navigate a path that careens between the radiant glow of love and the allure of wealth.

Music Director Eun Sun Kim’s conducting and Vincent Boussard’s cinematic production design brings the drama of Manon into emotional relief. The shimmering stage illuminates both the Champagne effervescence of Paris and the sensual idealism of young love.

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Manon

War Memorial Opera House

It’s a busy day in the manor house as the staff prepare for the marriage of the wily valet Figaro and his quick-witted fiancée, the maid Susanna. But the head of the house, Count Almaviva, wants Susanna for himself—and he’s used to getting his way. With the help of the slighted Countess, Figaro and Susanna work to turn the manor upside down in order to exchange their holy vows of matrimony. 

You can’t help but fall in love with Mozart’s endearing comedy of schemes and disguises. But hidden beneath its lighthearted façade is an exploration of the social constructs of power and class. At every turn, the servants are one step ahead of the Count.

Set at the birth of America, San Francisco Opera’s production highlights the deconstruction of class within a recently-built manor house. Scaffolding, blueprints and the dust of recently plastered walls pervade Erhard Rom’s set design, suggesting a new world emerging that challenges old ideals.  

Conductor Sebastian Weigle makes an exciting house debut on the podium.

The Marriage of Figaro

Glowing in the depths of the Rhine River lies magical gold, protected by three Rhinemaidens. Forsaking love, the mercenary Nibelung Alberich steals the treasure and forges a ring of immense power. When Wotan needs to pay the Giants for the building of Valhalla, he sets out to steal the gold from Alberich. These thefts set in motion an upending of world order, the repercussions of which not even Wotan can foresee. 

Das Rheingold heralds the beginning of Wagner’s heroic tetralogy: The Ring of the Nibelung. Continuing her multi-year exploration of Wagner, Music Director Eun Sun Kim takes on this celebrated epic, leading the San Francisco Opera Orchestra into the dawn of The Ring. Francesca Zambello’s visionary production brings Wagner’s timeless story close to home and into the 19th-century Gold Rush.

Das Rheingold is the prologue to Wagner’s most dramatic work, which will take the stage in three full cycles in June 2028.

Sofia Gotch

Events

Upcoming events

Oct 15 - Nov 1, 2026

Manon · San Francisco Opera

Oct 31 - Nov 29, 2026

The Marriage of Figaro · San Francisco Opera

May 29 - Jun 22, 2027

Das Rheingold · San Francisco Opera

Future and recently performed repertoire

Pousette in Manon by Massenet

San Francisco Opera

Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart

San Francisco Opera

Woglinde in Das Rheingold by Wagner

San Francisco Opera

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