Opera Ball 2025 Celebrates San Francisco Opera’s 103rd Season

San Francisco Opera raised the curtain on its 103rd season with “Opera Ball: Palazzo” on September 5, transforming City Hall into an operatic wonderland for the opera’s most prestigious annual fundraiser. General Director Matthew Shilvock marked his tenth season leading the organization, alongside San Francisco Opera Association President Jack Calhoun and Board Chair Barbara Wolfe, while co-chairs Jennifer Bienaimé and Isabel Rhee orchestrated an evening that seamlessly blended cocktail reception, dinner and after-party with the opening night performance of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” at the War Memorial Opera House.

The star-studded evening featured an international cast led by Amartuvshin Enkhbat in the title role, with Yongzhao Yu as the Duke, Adela Zaharia as Gilda and J’Nai Bridges as Maddalena, all conducted by Caroline H. Hume Music Director Eun Sun Kim. Jose Maria Condemi’s lushly imagined production, featuring Michael Yeargan’s towering archways and haunting shadows enhanced by elaborate costumes and dramatic lighting, provided the perfect artistic complement to an evening sponsored by luminaries including Diane B. Wilsey, TriplePoint Capital and Amazon. The elegant festivities, catered by McCalls Catering & Events with caviar from The Caviar Co. and wines from Scharffenberger Cellars, Frog’s Leap Winery and Château de Pommard, raised vital funds for the opera’s artistic initiatives and the Opera Guild’s K-12 education programming.