April 21, 2023 – October 22, 2023
BRAVO – Celebrating San Francisco Opera, Its Italian Roots and Legacy, an original documentary exhibition exclusively sponsored by E. L. Wiegand Foundation.
The prestigious San Francisco Opera company was founded by Italian Americans a century ago. While the Company is celebrating its 2022-2023 Centennial Season, the Museo Italo Americano is honored to recognize the vital role that San Francisco’s Italian community played in creating the institution and fostering the art of opera in our city.
BRAVO took our visitors on a journey through the decades starting with the Gold Rush and continuing on to the period prior to the formation of the Opera Company. It will then trace its growth until it became our nation’s second largest Opera Company. Exhibit goers discovered the story of the Italian American financiers of the San Francisco Opera and of Neapolitan conductor Gaetano Merola – the company’s founder and first Director – and his legacy. This was done by means of various media platforms: didactic panels, photographs, memorabilia, music and video content, as well as a QR code system which will enhance the ability to quickly and easily pull up extended information about the exhibition.
BRAVO – Celebrating San Francisco Opera, Its Italian Roots and Legacy is dedicated to the memory of Kristen Avansino of the E. L. Wiegand Foundation, whose constant enthusiasm, partnership and support throughout the years, made this exhibition – and so many others – possible.
We are grateful to:
- Kip Crane, Dramaturg Emeritus and Barbara Rominski, Director of Archives of San Francisco Opera
- Kristen Tanaka, Director of Collections of Museum of Performance + Design
In partnership with:
- San Francisco Opera, Museum of Performance + Design
Special Thanks to:
- Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound - Stanford University
- San Francisco Library
CLICK HERE to view the catalog BRAVO – Celebrating San Francisco Opera
Click HERE to see pictures from the Grand Opening
