Special concerts and performances take place in San Francisco year-round. San Francisco Performances, 500 Sutter St., Suite 710 (tel. 415/398-6449; www.performances.org), has brought acclaimed artists to the Bay Area for 27 years. Shows run the gamut from chamber music to dance to jazz. Performances are in several venues, including the Herbst Theater and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The season runs from late September to June. Tickets cost from $12 to $50 and are available through City Box Office (tel. 415/392-4400) or through the San Francisco Performances website.
Opera
In addition to San Francisco's major opera company, you might check out the amusing Pocket Opera, 469 Bryant St. (tel. 415/972-8930; www.pocketopera.org). From early March to mid-July, the comic company stages farcical performances of well-known operas in English. The staging is intimate and informal, without lavish costumes and sets. The cast ranges from 3 to 16 players, supported by a chamber orchestra. The rich repertoire includes such works as Don Giovanni, The Barber of Seville, and over 80 other operas. Performances are Friday at 7:30pm, throughout the day on Saturday, and Sunday at 2pm. Call the box office for complete information, location (which varies), and show times. Tickets cost from $18 (students) to $35.
Free Opera -- Every year, the San Francisco Opera stages a number of free performances. Every September, a free performance of Opera in the Park launches the season, followed by occasional free performances throughout the city as part of the Brown Bag Opera program. Schedule details can be found on the company's website at www.sfopera.com.
Dance
In addition to the local companies, top traveling troupes like the Joffrey Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre make regular appearances in San Francisco. Primary modern dance spaces include the Cowell Theater, at Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard at Buchanan Street (tel. 415/345-7575; www.fortmason.org/performingarts); and the ODC Theatre, 3153 17th St., at Shotwell Street in the Mission District (tel. 415/863-9834; www.odcdance.org. Tickets cost $18 to $25. Check the local papers for schedules or contact the theater box offices for more information.
