August 14, 2024
Opening Gala concert is preceded by a red-carpet welcome with sparkling wine and light bites for all attendees
Opening Gala dinner packages offer an enhanced experience and are available for purchase via sfsymphony.org/gala; proceeds from the event benefit the SF Symphony’s artistic, education, and community programs
Opening Gala dinner packages offer an enhanced experience and are available for purchase via sfsymphony.org/gala; proceeds from the event benefit the SF Symphony’s artistic, education, and community programs
Download a PDF of this Press Release 
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Davies Symphony Hall
Lang Lang and Gina Alice
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony celebrate the start of the 2024–25 season with the Opening Gala on September 25 in an exhilarating program featuring superstar pianist Lang Lang performing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2. Lang Lang also performs alongside his wife, pianist Gina Alice, in Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals, a lighthearted 14-movement piece highlighting different animals such as the lion, elephant, and swan. Salonen and the Orchestra perform selections from Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet throughout the Opening Gala program, including “Montagues and Capulets,” “Morning Dance,” “The Child Juliet,” and “Death of Tybalt.”
The San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Night Gala begins at 5:30pm with red carpet arrivals and a preconcert lobby reception for all attendees with complimentary sparkling wine and light bites catered by McCalls Catering and Events. For an elevated experience, patrons can reserve a VIP sponsorship including an exclusive preconcert cocktail reception and celebratory postconcert seated dinner in Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall. The Opening Gala features decor and catering from McCalls Catering and Events, lighting design by Got Light, and projection design by Yuki Izumihara.
The 2024 Opening Gala is led by a host committee of San Francisco Symphony Governors including San Francisco Symphony President Priscilla Geeslin, Jeff Bharkhda, Tiffany Chang, and Trine Sorensen.
In-kind support for the Opening Gala is provided by The Caviar Co., Fort Point, Gold Bar Whiskey, Humboldt Distillery, and Maker Wines.
Proceeds from the Opening Night Gala directly support the Symphony’s acclaimed education, community, and artistic programs, which serve tens of thousands throughout the Bay Area each year. For more information and reservations to the gala event, please visit sfsymphony.org/gala.
Click here to access the Online Press Kit, which includes a PDF of this press release, downloadable artist headshots, and photos from past SF Symphony opening week celebrations.
[To view or download the full PDF version of this press release with calendar listings, click on DOWNLOAD PDF]
