San Francisco Opera Snapshot
The San Francisco Opera has mighty big lungs. The company is the nation's second largest and its Western Opera Theater is the only national opera touring group. In addition to presenting new and classic works at War Memorial Opera House, it offers the annual free Opera in the Park as well as education and apprenticeship programs for children and young professionals. Considered an innovator, the company pioneered the US use of "supertitles" (an English translation projected over the stage) and has commissioned operas based on plays (A Streetcar Named Desire), people (slain San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk), and books (Dead Man Walking, Dangerous Liaisons). It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola.
