Kathleen O'Mara to Perform Strauss in Concert Nov. 6
Soprano Kathleen O'Mara will headline the San Francisco Opera program following the withdrawal of Adela Zaharia.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Opera
Live Poll
Do you plan to attend live local orchestral performances in your area this year?
Soprano Kathleen O'Mara is set to perform at the War Memorial Opera House on November 6, 2026, replacing Adela Zaharia who withdrew due to illness. The upcoming performance will feature O'Mara singing Strauss' Four Last Songs.
Why it matters
The change in soloist brings a rising star to the San Francisco Opera stage for a program that highlights significant moments in the composer's career. O'Mara brings recent competitive success to this performance, including top honors at the 2024 Operalia Competition.
Kathleen O'Mara holds 1st Prize wins from the 2025 Queen Sonja Singing Competition and the 2024 Operalia Competition. The concert program includes the U.S. premiere of a 35-minute Der Rosenkavalier Suite alongside works dating back to 1895.
The players
Kathleen O'Mara
She is a celebrated soprano who recently secured 1st Prize at both the 2025 Queen Sonja Singing Competition and the 2024 Operalia Competition.
Eun Sun Kim
She is the music director of the San Francisco Opera and serves as the conductor for this orchestral program.
San Francisco Opera
This is a major American opera company based at the War Memorial Opera House that produces world-class performances for the Bay Area.
Adela Zaharia
She is a professional soprano who was originally scheduled to perform but withdrew from the concert due to illness.
The details
The program, led by conductor Eun Sun Kim and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, opens with the 1895 tone poem Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks. Following the U.S. premiere of the new Rosenkavalier suite, O'Mara will perform Four Last Songs, which Strauss composed in 1948.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: The Strauss in Concert performance takes place.
Industry Dynamics
This program continues the trend of major opera houses bridging historical masterworks with modern interpretive suites. By debuting the new Der Rosenkavalier Suite, the company highlights how institutions are refreshing the standard orchestral repertoire.
Tickets for the concert range from $30 to $255 and remain available for purchase through the company's box office. Patrons should note that the program features a 35-minute suite premiere alongside traditional vocal works.
The takeaway
Audience members can expect a blend of late-Romantic tone poems and vocal masterpieces in this upcoming performance. Those planning to attend should verify their seat locations at the War Memorial Opera House ahead of the November 6 date.
Further reading
For more information on the season schedule and upcoming performances, visit the Opera section.
More information
View ticket availability and detailed program notes on the San Francisco Opera official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Broadway World.
Live Poll
Do you plan to attend live local orchestral performances in your area this year?
