SAN FRANCISCO OPERA AND SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ORCHESTRA REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON NEW FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT
San Francisco, CA (September 17, 2026) — San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, represented by the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 6, jointly announce that they have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract. The agreement, reached today after a week of dedicated negotiating by both parties, spans August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2030 and is still subject to ratification.
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 Opera Orchestra Associate Principal Oboist and Chair of the Orchestra Negotiating Committee Gabe Young said: "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. We look forward to working together to build on the progress being made at the San Francisco Opera, and we cannot wait to return to the pit to begin this new season and perform once again for the company we love.”
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 anagreement, and I want to thank Matthew Shilvock and the San Francisco Opera leadership for their hard work throughout the process. 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. Finally, we are getting those performances started again.”
San Francisco Opera’s 104th season opens Tuesday, September 22 with Giuseppe Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra in Claus Guth’s Hamburg State Opera production, staged for San Francisco Opera by revival director Katherine M. Carter. Caroline H. Hume Music Director Eun Sun Kim leads the Orchestra and an international cast headed by Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat in the title role, bass-baritone Christian Van Horn as Jacopo Fiesco with soprano Eleonora Buratto and tenor Joshua Guerrero making their house debuts as Amelia Grimaldi and Gabriele Adorno, respectively.
Thea Musgrave’s Mary, Queen of Scots, which had its West Coast premiere in 1979 under the composer’s baton, opens Thursday, September 24 in a new co-production with English National Opera directed by Stewart Laing and led by debuting conductor Clelia Cafiero. Soprano Heidi Stober stars as the Scottish queen. The artists of the San Francisco Opera Chorus, under Chorus Director John Keene, are featured in both productions.
For more information about San Francisco Opera’s 2026–27 Season, visit sfopera.com.
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For further press information, contact San Francisco Opera Communications:
Julia Inouye (415) 565-6430 / jinouye@sfopera.com
Jeffery McMillan (415) 565-6451 / jmcmillan@sfopera.com
Teresa Concepcion (415) 565-6470 / tconcepcion@sfopera.com
The San Francisco Opera Orchestra Announces Strike in Advance of Opening Night
San Francisco, CA: The Musicians of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra today released the following statement:
“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.
Our contract expired on July 31. We came into these negotiations months ago expecting to build on the modest agreement we reached two years ago. Management instead initially proposed a 26% pay cut, which would have returned us to 2015 wages, and later "improved" that offer to a 20% cut. Coming into today, their latest proposal was a five-year wage freeze, which, factoring in inflation, is equivalent to roughly a 20% cut over the life of the contract. All of this at a time when San Francisco rents are surging to the highest in the nation.
Despite our efforts to negotiate in good faith, cuts have remained their answer to every proposal we have made. Our ask is simply to keep pace with the local cost of living, much like the recently announced contract for the city's public sector unions.
And while management insists that the musicians take a pay cut, the same standard does not seem to apply to the Opera’s executives. The General Director's salary rose 72% between the 2022 and 2025 fiscal years, from $424,000 to $729,000, according to the company's public filings.
The San Francisco Opera is not a company in trouble. By management's own account, and by the financial information they have shared with us:
● Six productions have sold out in the past three years.
● Ticket sales and subscriptions are rising. Donations have increased by $8 million compared to last year, exceeding the Opera's stated goals by $2.2 million.
● In addition to recent high-profile gifts, the number of "Producers Circle" donors, who contribute over $100,000 per year, has more than doubled since the pandemic.
There are several structural ways for the Opera to address its operating deficits without squeezing its artists, none of which they appear willing to explore. We are holding the line for a fair contract not only for our current musicians, but so that the Company can attract and retain top talent for years to come. If we are not competitive with our peer orchestras, we cannot expect exceptional talent to accept a lower paying position in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
There is nowhere we would rather be tonight than in the pit. We ask management to return to the table in good faith, prioritize reaching a fair contract, and provide the stability and certainty that the company needs to continue its positive trajectory.
If you want to help, write to the San Francisco Opera at PatronServices@sfopera.com and tell them what this season means to you.”
Data taken from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm )
The Orchestra's most treasured relationship is the one we have with you, our audience. Our relationship is passionate and committed. In Wagner's Ring Cycle alone, we spend 14 hours together in the dark, sharing our love for extraordinary music. You, our audience, complete the cycle—one that begins with the composer, travels through the singers and musicians, and ends in the great cathedral of our War Memorial Opera House, where we experience music together.
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