The San Francisco Opera released a statement following the cancelation of opening night due to the San Francisco Opera Orchestra’s strike.

In a statement San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said, ”I am very disappointed that the Orchestra has chosen to strike the opening of our 104th season, cancelling the opening performance and the beloved Opera in the Park concert, rather than continuing to engage in dialogue at the negotiating table. This is an incredible difficult time for the arts. As with many organizations, we must adjust to the changing realities of the arts, and we cannot sustain a compensation structure that originated 45 years ago without bringing it into alignment with current reality. We deeply value the Musicians of the Orchestra and hope that they will return to the pit as soon as possible, such that the whole company can return to bringing transformative opera to the community.”

The San Francisco Opera has been in mediated negotiations with our Orchestra for a successor collective bargaining agreement. The agreement expired on July 31, 2026. We have incredible respect for the Musicians of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and deeply value the talents they bring to the Company and the community. The Company looks forward to continuing conversations with the Orchestra to find the right path forward for all parties.

Read Related Stories 

• The San Francisco Opera Orchestra Announces Strike in Advance of Opening Night