It’s  a busy month for the S.F. Opera; an era begins with
new music director Nicola Luisotti
By Bruce Bellingham


The new season begins at the S.F. Opera with the debut of the new, dynamic music director, Nicola Luisotti, as well as the Opera Ball, Opera in the Park, and, yes, Opera at the Ballpark.
   
Maestro Luisotti will take the podium for opening night’s performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore on Friday, Sept.11. The cast features Sondra Radvanovsky, Stephanie Blythe, Marco Berti, and Dmitri Hvorostovky. 
   
The Opera Ball will be held that night, Sept. 11. It begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails at the Veteran’s Building. After the opera, dinner will take place under the rotunda at City Hall. The Opera Ball is a fundraiser for the opera and the Opera Guild’s education programs, bringing good music into the classrooms.
   
Opening week continues with the traditional, free concert, Opera in the Park, at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, Sept. 13. It features all the glam singers from the season with Maestro Luisotti conducting.
   
The week wraps up at AT&T Park on Saturday, Sept. 19, when Webcor Builders Present Opera at the Ballpark. The last event at the park drew 27,000 in June. Il Trovatore will be simulcast to the park from the stage at the Opera House. The show at AT&T Park is free.
   
In this first season, Maestro Luisotti conducts Verdi’s Il Trovatore and Otello, Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West, and Strauss’s Salome.         
  

San Francisco Opera: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness
Avenue (at Grove), 415-864-3330, www.sfopera.com

Opera Guild’s Opera Ball: Sept. 11, 5 p.m., tickets $850–$5,000 at 415-565-3204 or www.sfopera.com/guild

Opera Opening Night: Verdi’s Il Trovatore, Sept. 11, 7 p.m., tickets $15–$310 (for performance only, does not include opening night gala), standing room tickets ($10, cash only) go on sale at 10 a.m. day of performance.