
San Francisco Opera
War Memorial Opera House, Polk Street in the Civic Center, San Francisco, California USA
September 20, 2009, 1:25 pm
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© 2009 G. Donald Bain, All Rights Reserved.
Caption
The opening night production of the San Francisco Opera this year is Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio." These lucky people get to go in and watch the dress rehearsal. I will have to wait a week for a seat in the balcony, and still won't be allowed to take pictures.The War Memorial Opera House, opened in 1932, is home to both the opera and the San Francisco Ballet. This is also where the United Nations was founded in 1945.
Across the street stands the massive San Francisco City Hall, and on either side are Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, home to the San Francisco Symphony, and Herbst Theatre. A block away is the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, venue for everything from rock to the circus. This is truly the epicenter of performing arts in the city.
Background music excerpted from the overture to Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail (Abduction from the Seraglio) by W.A Mozart, performed by the London Festival Orchestra.