tend to be expensive, unlike in Europe, where opera companies are subsidized to make attendance is more accessible.

There are usually five operas performed, mostly traditional, but with one or two newer works. The San Francisco Opera's 'season' typically starts in early September and runs through early December. The tradition of free summer concerts at Stern Grove continues to the present, and one of the summer choices is sometimes an opera. Merola was the director for many years, and actually passed away in 1953, while conducting Madame Butterfly at a free concert in Stern Grove. La Boheme was the first opera performed in San Francisco by the young company, and performances were held in the Civic Auditorium until the current opera house was built in 1932.

The San Francisco Opera company was officially founded by a conductor from Naples, Gaetano Merola, in 1923. Opera in San Francisco got its start during the Gold Rush of 1849, and by the early 1900's was staging operas in the Tivoli Opera House (now gone).

Parking near san francisco opera house