It quickly emerged as a modern operatic masterpiece with premieres in Paris, London and, in its first performances outside of Europe, San Francisco. Poulenc’s vibrant score includes one of the most musically ingenious final scenes devised for the lyric stage, a shattering, sublime and unforgettable denouement.ĭialogues of the Carmelites, with a libretto by the composer adapted from a screenplay by Georges Bernanos and older sources, had its world premiere at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala in 1957. Hume Music Director Eun Sun Kim conducts the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Chorus and soloists in this powerful, 20th-century masterwork in the acclaimed production by French director Olivier Py.īased on the true story of an order of Carmelite nuns who faced execution by guillotine during the French Revolution, the opera is a testament to the bonds that hold people together amid social instability and political violence. SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 4, 2022) - San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Season continues with Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelties ( Dialogues des Carmélites) at the War Memorial Opera House, October 15–30. The War Memorial Opera House is one of the Bay Area’s most sought-after and unique venues, offering modern technology and the ambience of Old World theater.Francis Poulenc's 20th-Century Masterpiece, Which had its American Premiere with San Francisco Opera in 1957, Returns in Olivier Py's Production, Conducted by Music Director Eun Sun KimĬast Features Heidi Stober, Michaela Schuster, Michelle Bradley, Melody Moore, Deanna Breiwick

With its ornate features and 38-foot ceiling, the grand Main Lobby makes an unforgettable setting for elegant cocktail receptions and sit-down dinners.

In addition to opera and ballet performances, the 3006-seat auditorium is available for special presentations, lectures and concerts. Home of the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet, the War Memorial Opera House opened in 1932 with TIME magazine declaring it “…a house made possible by all the people of San Francisco.”ĭesigned by Arthur Brown, Jr., the prominent American architect who also created San Francisco City Hall, this cultural landmark is one of the last Beaux-Arts structures built in the United States. Today, the stately building is host to a variety of events.

War memorial opera house seafs