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Books to introduce, entertain, educate and enlighten the new and experienced opera-goer.

...for the opera lover

from the San Francisco Opera Collection

San Francisco Opera's Fall 2019 is a season of sensations -daring and direct, drama at its richest and deepest with world class performances by some of the greatest singers. The season opens September 6, 2019 with a riveting new production of Charles Gounod's lyrical ROMEO and JULIET, followed by a harrowing production of Benjamin Britten's BILLY BUDD, based on the haunting final work by Herman Melville. This rarity of the operatic stage is beautifully offset by San Francisco Opera sterling new production of "THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO". Returning to the stage of the War Memorial Opera House is Puccini's MANON LESCAUT, a hit co-production with Lyric Opera of Chicago. Engelbert Humperdinck's enchanting "HANSEL & GRETEL", returning after far too long, is a magical evening, a wonderful first opera for families.

Look and listen to a few of our selections from the Opera Shop - or grab a memento of evening's performance - before or after curtain!

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA has a long history of glorious posters commemorating the seasons. 

From our colorful seasons to your wall, the stunning imagery created to alert the public to our exciting productions is captured in glorious living color. From commissions to artists such as Retna and famed graphic designer Michael Schwab, these commemorative posters grace the city's streets each opera season.

The collection by famed Bay Area graphic artist, Michael Schwab, is still available in limited quantities. Summer 2016 saw the debut of Schwab's dramatic rendition of Giuseppe Verdi's DON CARLO, a gloriously rich rendering of the opera's byzantine plot.  The museum quality prints are gorgeously printed on heavy archival stock.  Posters in 24" x 36" size are signed by the artist. Framed posters are available in very limited editions.

Schwab has created award-winning logos and posters for a remarkable list of prestigious clients, including The John F. Kennedy Center, Pebble Beach, Robert Mondavi, Major League Baseball, Peet’s Coffee, TCM and the Golden Gate National Parks.  His work is striking in its simplicity.

LOOK FOR ARCHIVAL POSTERS FROM SFO'S STORIED PAST IN THE FUTURE.

The Sixties are abundantly alive in three opulent posters designed by Oakland-based graphic artist Matt Leunig's commissioned work for San Francisco Opera's Summer of Love season.  Beautifully screen-printed in eye-popping colors, these vibrant original works riff on the posters that plastered the City in the 60's and will be available in 17" x 24" screen-printed poster, signed by the artist, for each opera - Don Giovanni, Rigoletto and La Boheme.  Limited SIGNED AND NUMBERED quantities!