San Francisco Opera Announces 2026-27 Season Highlights

Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra", Thea Musgrave's "Mary, Queen of Scots", and Wagner's "Das Rheingold" among the offerings.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 8:07am by Ben Kaplan

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San Francisco Opera has revealed the repertory and casting for its 104th season, which will open on September 12, 2026 with Giuseppe Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra" under the baton of Music Director Eun Sun Kim. Other highlights include the company premiere of Thea Musgrave's "Mary, Queen of Scots" and a new production of Wagner's "Das Rheingold", the first installment of the composer's "Ring" cycle.

Why it matters

San Francisco Opera's 2026-27 season features a mix of classic operas and new productions, showcasing the company's commitment to expanding the operatic repertoire and bringing important works to the stage. The season includes the company premiere of an opera by a female composer, Thea Musgrave's "Mary, Queen of Scots", as well as the beginning of Eun Sun Kim's tenure conducting Wagner's "Ring" cycle, a major undertaking for any opera company.

The details

The season opens with Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra", directed by Claus Guth in his American debut, and featuring Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat in the title role. The company will also present the West Coast premiere of Musgrave's "Mary, Queen of Scots", directed by Stewart Laing, with soprano Heidi Stober in the title role. Later in the season, Kim will conduct a new production of Wagner's "Das Rheingold", the first part of the "Ring" cycle, in Francesca Zambello's acclaimed staging.

  • The 2026-27 season opens on September 12, 2026 with Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra".
  • "Mary, Queen of Scots" runs from September 20 to October 4, 2026.
  • "Manon" by Jules Massenet runs from October 15 to November 1, 2026.
  • "The Marriage of Figaro" by Mozart runs from October 31 to November 29, 2026.
  • "Das Rheingold" runs from May 29 to June 22, 2027.

The players

Eun Sun Kim

The Music Director of San Francisco Opera who will conduct several productions in the 2026-27 season, including "Simon Boccanegra" and "Das Rheingold".

Thea Musgrave

The Scottish-born composer whose opera "Mary, Queen of Scots" will receive its mainstage premiere at San Francisco Opera in the 2026-27 season.

Heidi Stober

The soprano who will star in the title role of "Mary, Queen of Scots".

Claus Guth

The German director whose production of "Simon Boccanegra" will make its American debut at San Francisco Opera.

Stewart Laing

The director and designer who will stage the production of "Mary, Queen of Scots".

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What’s next

The lead up to the full "Ring" cycle performances in June 2028 will continue in Fall 2027 with part two of the cycle, "Die Walküre".

The takeaway

San Francisco Opera's 2026-27 season showcases the company's commitment to presenting a diverse range of operatic works, from classic Verdi and Mozart to contemporary operas by composers like Thea Musgrave. The season also marks the beginning of Eun Sun Kim's tenure conducting Wagner's monumental "Ring" cycle, a landmark event for the company.