San Francisco Opera Opens 'Le Nozze di Figaro' Oct. 31

San Francisco Opera will stage Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" at the War Memorial Opera House from Oct. 31 through Nov. 29.

The run of eight dates spans nearly a month, closing out the autumn portion of the company's season. Shawna Lucey directs the Company's production by Michael Cavanagh.

Conductor Sebastian Weigle makes his house debut on the podium. His cast brings a mix of company regulars and newer names to the War Memorial stage.

Who sings in the cast?

The ensemble includes:

• Peter Kellner
• Slávka Zámečníková
• Thomas Mole
• Olivia Smith
• Simone McIntosh
• Maurizio Muraro
• Catherine Cook
• Alek Shrader
• Chance Jonas-O'Toole
• Sofia Gotch
• Philip Skinner

The pairing of Kellner and Zámečníková, announced top of the billing, signals the central Figaro-Susanna axis around which Mozart's comedy of servants and masters turns.

Can audiences watch from home?

Yes. One performance will be livestreamed at 7:30 p.m. PT on Nov. 8, with on-demand viewing available for 48 hours afterward — a window that lets remote audiences watch through Nov. 10.

Ticket holders attending in person get an added layer of context. San Francisco Opera Dramaturg Emeritus Dr. Clifford "Kip" Cranna will present a 20-minute overview of the opera beginning 55 minutes before each performance, a pre-curtain talk timed to start at roughly 6:45 p.m. for an evening show.

The livestream continues San Francisco Opera's practice of extending its productions beyond the house itself, making the Cavanagh production accessible to viewers who cannot travel to the War Memorial Opera House during the month-long run.

What does the run mean for the season?

The Oct. 31 opening places "Le Nozze di Figaro" as a Halloween-night premiere and one of the company's major fall offerings, with Weigle's debut marking the musical leadership question many operagoers will watch. The production runs through Nov. 29, with Cranna's pre-performance talks offered before every performance in the run.