Opera Unbound

Because Opera Is For Everyone

DEC is proud to offer a number of one-off and multi-session workshops designed to spark creativity, confidence, and connection. From our First Act workshops for the littlest opera fans (ages 3-8) to the Opera In You, storytelling workshops for adults, our wide range of offerings has something for friends of all ages.

Special Events

Opera Unbound Showcase

San Francisco Public Library Main Branch, Koret Auditorium
2:00 – 5:00 PM

San Francisco Opera’s Department of Engagement + Connectivity, in partnership with San Francisco Public Library, invites you to join us for the Opera Unbound Showcase on Sunday, April 19 from 2:00-5:00 at the Koret Auditorium, (SFPL Main Branch.) This special three-hour event will feature storytellers from our celebrated series of writing workshops, The Opera in You, hosted by our Lead Teaching Artist and Storyteller, Corey Rosen. Meanwhile, participants of our opera book club, Page to Stage, will present a staged reading of When You’re the King, They Let You Do It – a new translation of Victor Hugo’s Le Roi s’amuse, which served as the basis for Verdi’s beloved opera Rigoletto. Translated and directed by Teaching Artist Marissa Skudlarek, When You’re the King, They Let You Do It, brings deeper meaning and timely parallels to the Verdi classic that opened our 103rd season in September 2025.

Admission to the Opera Unbound Showcase is free and open to all; no registration required.

Opera Talks

Lectures on all-things opera and beyond. 60—90-minute presentations designed for adult audiences, whether they be new to opera or seasoned aficionados.

Upcoming talks are listed to the right. Expand a talk's section to learn more!

Click Here to Read About The Full Repetoire of Opera Talks

di·va (noun):
1. A famous female opera singer
2. A self-important person who is temperamental and difficult to please
3. Latin word for “goddess”
They portray gods and goddesses, countesses, and courtesans. They command our attention, rule the stage, and amaze us with their divine beauty of song. Where would opera be without its glorious divas? This 90-minute survey explores the real-life and on-stage bigger-than-life characters we’ve come to love (and sometimes love to hate!)

March 8, 2026 - 3-4:30pm - San Mateo County Libraries Millbrae

March 23, 2026 - 10:30am-12pm - San Mateo County Libraries Brisabane

April 1, 2025 - 10:30am-12pm - San Mateo County Libraries Atherton

April 8, 2026 - 11am-12:30pm - San Mateo County Libraries Woodside
Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo? … He’s at the opera, of course!

From British composers Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten to the Italian operatic master Giuseppe Verdi, the plays of William Shakespeare can be found all over the canon of western operatic repertoire. This 90-minute survey explores the works of The Bard through the context of opera, highlighting celebrated standards and rarely seen gems in which all the world’s a stage and all it’s people sing.

April 19, 2026 - 2-3pm - SFPL Richmond Branch
Head south of the border to discover a wealth of treasure on the operatic stage. This 90-minute survey explores the rich history and tradition of Zarzuela (Spanish-language opera), influential South American composers such as Astor Piazolla and Heitor Villa-Lobos, and the voices of Latinx superstars. Whether you’re new to opera or a seasoned aficionado, there’s a whole other world of musical storytelling to add to your opera playlist.

April 21, 2026 - 6-7:30pm - ONLINE
in partnership with SFPL North Beach Branch
The most seasoned fans of opera may know the masterful operatic works of British composer Benjamin Britten, but perhaps not so much about the not-so-hidden yet quite forbidden romance with his longterm partner in life and on stage, operatic tenor Peter Pears. This 90-minute survey explores and celebrates the romance of this midcentury British power couple who kissed in the shadows while forever changing the world of British opera.

June 23, 2026 - 6-7pm - ONLINE in partnership with SFPL North Beach Branch

Page to Stage | The Opera Book Club

Our Book Club offers patrons of local libraries and San Francisco Opera to explore and discuss books that serve as the basis for the stories we tell on our stage. Book Club participants receive a free copy of the selected title and an invitation to the dress rehearsal of the opera at the War Memorial Opera House.

Verdi’s brilliant opera Rigoletto, presented by San Francisco Opera in Fall 2025, is adapted from Victor Hugo’s 1830 historical melodrama Le Roi s’amuse.

This spring, SF Opera’s department of Engagement + Community is offering members of the public a chance to act in a staged reading of Hugo’s play, in a new translation by San Francisco-based playwright Marissa Skudlarek.

Controversial in its time for suggesting that kings are not infallible and corrupt monarchs ought to be punished, the play features all the thrills and twists of the opera, plus extra material that deepens the characters.

Mindful of the play’s resonances to our own time, Skudlarek's version is titled When You’re the King, They Let You Do It. Would you like to play tormented jester Triboulet, amoral playboy King François, or innocent ingenue Blanche? Come exercise your dramatic skills and perform in a reading of this great anti-monarchical play. No prior theatrical experience necessary. (Note: trigger warnings for ableism, fatphobia, murder for hire, and sexual assault.)

Rehearsals Sundays, 3-6pm at San Francisco Opera Company Hub, March 8-April 12, 2026
Public Presentation at SF Public Library Main Branch April 19, 2026

The Opera In You

The flagship program of Opera Unbound, The Opera in You is a series of free workshops that explore the unique experiences within us all as participants build storytelling literacy skills in a creative and collaborative environment. The Opera in You culminates in public showcases where participants are encouraged to share their story. All participants are invited to attend our dress rehearsals at the War Memorial Opera House.

Once Upon An Opera

Our programs for children and families are the perfect way to introduce young children to the world of opera. Stories, games, crafts, and singing allow children to explore musical storytelling in an accessible, engaging, and inclusive setting.

Opera Cubs members get quarterly newsletters announcing new and upcoming Once Upon An Opera events as well as coloring and activity pages and other fun opera content for kids!

Sign your little opera fan up for Opera Cubs here

Opera Encores

Experience the best of San Francisco Opera with our captivating livestream events. Stream live performances in the comfort of your local library.