Course

The 2026 at San Francisco Opera is packed with variety, including standard favorites, more rarely performed repertoire, and contemporary fare. San Francisco Opera’s Dramaturg (Scholar in Residence) Emeritus Kip Cranna will draw on his 40 years of experience on the staff of the Company, using video excerpts (with subtitles) to prepare you to get the most enjoyment out of the season, with background information, listening tips, and insights into the casting and productions. No previous opera experience necessary.  Just watch, listen, and enjoy. 

Faculty Bio

Kip Cranna is Dramaturg Emeritus (Scholar in Residence) at the San Francisco Opera, where he served on the staff for 40 years. He has a Ph.D. in musicology from Stanford.

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

• Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365 (3rd floor), at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
• Classes will also stream live, and be video recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Tuesday, June 2, and ends on Tuesday, June 23.
• Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2 hours per session (1-3 PM).
• All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through August 31.