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San Francisco Opera’s 2025-26 season is still months away, but for company General Director Matthew Shilvock, it’s right around the corner. With full productions, concerts, special events and more, this is a company that doesn’t rest. “We’re approaching a very deep level,” Shilvock said in a recent interview, “and it’s very exciting.
This is a pivotal time.” Just reading the season lineup is exciting: in addition to an impressive list of special events, including the world premiere of “The Monkey King,” by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang, and the long-awaited return of Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking,” marking the landmark 25th anniversary of its San Francisco world premiere, there are productions of Wagner’s “Parsifal,” Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Richard Strauss’ “Elektra,” and more. The season opens Sept.
5, beginning with the company’s annual “Opera Ball,” followed by the opening night performance of Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” conducted by company music director Eun Sun Kim. “Dead Man Walking” follows on Sept. 14, conducted by Patrick Summers.
In November, the season boasts “The Monkey King.” Based on 16th-century stories from the Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” the title character, Sun Wukong, wreaks havoc on the heavens in a bid for immortality. The new work has garnered much interest in the opera world; Shilvock committed to it in 2017, and it’s been in the works ever since.
“It’s amazing to see the gestation period of new works like this one, which is filled with so much energy and wonder,” he said, “and it’s so exciting when you see the fruits of these labors.” Some productions, such as “Parsifal,” are returning to the company after a long hiatus. “This ‘Parsifal’ has been in the works,” said Shilvock, “and I do think it was worth the wait, for several reasons.
” One, it’s a new production, he said; another is Eun Sun Kim conducting. “She’s been building a new Wagnerian style of the house with the orchestra and chorus. It’ll be 25 years since we did ‘Parsifal,’ so to build up to that is a celebration of spirit and energy.
” “Dead Man Walking” is also certain to generate new energy: Heggie’s 2000 opera was a triumph in its world premiere at San Francisco Opera; Shilvock said it’s time to bring it back. “’Dead Man Walking’ had such success from its first performance, and in subsequent performances around the world. I see it very much as a turning point for the company and also for American opera; when you think of the kinds of stories we’ve seen, there’s been this amazing outpouring of deep storytelling in American companies.
When we revisit these works, it celebrates the opera, but also introduces it to many new audience members.” The season also welcomes return artists including Amartuvshin Ankhbat, who wowed audiences in the company’s 2024’s opening night performance of “Un Ballo in Maschera”; other returning singers include Jamie Barton, Daniela Mack, and Elza Vandenheever. Arts organizations in the Bay Area and around the country have seen hard times in recent years, but now in his tenth season as general director, Shilvock says there’s reason for optimism.
“It’s a very complex time for the arts: one of great challenge but also great opportunity,” he said. “There’s a hunger for art at the moment. People want things of meaning, focus and depth.
“On the flip side, we have a model that’s been getting more strained for decades. The need to find a path forward is a very fine needle to thread at the moment. It’s a complex time, but I take a huge amount of reassurance that there’s a huge passion for what we do.
There’s an opportunity here to tell these stories of humanity, and that’s what we do. There are big issues to solve ahead of us, but the core of what we do is still so needed.” 2025-26 SEASON AT A GLANCE Sept.
5: Opera Ball, “Rigoletto” Sept. 7: Opera in the Park Sept. 14-28: “Dead Man Walking” Oct.
25-Nov. 13: “Parsifal” Nov. 1: Beethoven and Falla concert Nov.
14-30: “The Monkey King” (world premiere) May 28-June 21: “The Barber of Seville” June 7-27: “Elektra” Subscriptions: $139-$2,580; sfopera.com.
