San Francisco Opera Presents OPERA IN THE PARK

Opening weekend for San Francisco Opera's 2016-17 Season continues with the 43rd San Francisco Chronicle Presents Opera in the Park free outdoor concert on Sharon Meadow in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, Sunday, September 11 at 1:30 p.m. This annual open-air concert celebrates the opening of San Francisco Opera's 94th season and features many distinguished artists from the Company's Fall Season performing favorite arias and duets by Donizetti, Giordano, Rossini, Verdi and others accompanied by Company Music Director Nicola Luisotti and conductor George Manahan leading the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.

The roster of artists for this year's event include soprano Anna Pirozzi, mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges and baritones George Gagnidze and David Pershall from the cast of the season opening Andrea Chénier; sopranoPureum Jo, mezzo-soprano Irene Roberts and tenor Yijie Shi from the cast of Bright Sheng and David Henry Hwang's world premiere opera Dream of the Red Chamber; tenor Lawrence Brownlee and baritone Lucas Meachem from the cast of Don Pasquale; and current Adler Fellows sopranos Julie Adams and Amina Edrisand tenor Pene Pati. The master of ceremonies for the concert will be San Francisco Opera General DirectorMatthew Shilvock.

Established by former San Francisco Opera General Director Kurt Herbert Adler in 1971, the annual Opera in the Park free concert is a beloved Bay Area tradition drawing thousands of music lovers each year, many of whom enjoy the occasion with elaborate picnics on the lawn. Crowds of more than 15,000 have come to the park every September to celebrate the opening of the San Francisco Opera season and see the stars perform in the open air. Opera legends from Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo to Beverly Sills and Marilyn Horne have performed at Opera in the Park.

This event is free; no tickets are required. Bring a picnic and enjoy this outdoor, family-friendly concert; food and beverages will also be available for sale at the event. Parking is extremely limited; taking public transit is highly recommended. Artists and program are subject to change. For further information on San Francisco Chronicle Presents Opera in the Park or San Francisco Opera's 2016-17 Season, call (415) 864-3330 or visit sfopera.com.