The San Francisco Opera Orchestra has ended its strike after reaching a tentative deal for a new contract with management.

The deal comes almost a week after beginning a strike that forced the cancellation of opening night and multiple performances through Sept. 20.

The San Francisco Chronicle was the first to report the news and Gabe Young, associate principal oboist and chair of the orchestra negotiating committee, confirmed the agreement to the news outlet.

He told the Chronicle, “We are heartened to have reached a tentative deal that provides a fair contract and stability for the members of the orchestra. We are grateful to Mayor Lurie and his team, who put in long hours over the past several days to help broker this agreement, and we want to thank the public and Opera patrons for their patience and support through what has been a challenging process for our musicians.”

The tentative agreement will be for a new four-year contract that spans August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2030 and is still subject to ratification.

In a statement San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said: “I am deeply grateful that we have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract—one that addresses important structural changes while providing a fair agreement for our Musicians. I want to thank both negotiating committees and recognize the leadership of Mayor Lurie, Matthew Goudeau and the mediators—all have worked tirelessly over the past week to realize this agreement. We look forward to welcoming our talented company members and guest artists, as well as our cherished patrons and donors, back to the theater. Most of all, we look forward to coming together again and reconnecting through the collective beauty of the arts.”

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie: “Arts and culture are driving San Francisco’s recovery, and the work of the artists and staff at our cultural institutions make that possible. And as the cost of living rises, we are working to build a city where those artists, workers and families can put down roots. I am grateful to the musicians of Local 6 for their constant commitment to reaching an agreement, and I want to thank Matthew Shilvock and the San Francisco Opera leadership for their hard work throughout the process. We would not have an agreement without the dedication of Matthew Goudeau, our executive director of arts and culture, who spent night after night in City Hall and the War Memorial, working to get the opera started again. San Francisco invests in the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center so it can be filled with the arts and culture that are driving our recovery. Performances at the Opera House support artists and staff, draw residents and visitors to small businesses in Hayes Valley, and bring people together to enjoy amazing music.”

The San Francisco Opera Orchestra went on strike on Sept. 12 stating, “It is with heavy hearts that we announce that the musicians of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra are on strike and we will not be performing at tonight’s Opening Night. A strike is not something we take lightly, and we are deeply sorry to everyone who planned to spend this evening at the opera. We have been clear throughout these negotiations that management’s offers were insufficient, and that without a fair contract we would have no choice but to stop work. Management’s insistence on cuts has left us no other option.”

The San Francisco Opera’s season is now expected to open on Sept. 22 with a performance of “Simon Boccanegra.”

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