War Memorial Opera House and Gaetano Merola

The War Memorial Opera House is the longtime home of the San Francisco Opera, which was founded in 1923 by conductor and impresario Gaetano Merola. The Opera House opened in 1932 as part of the city's War Memorial complex and has hosted the San Francisco Opera's seasons and many premieres and notable productions. Merola's role as founder and first general director is a documented part of the company's institutional history.