The Museo Italo Americano hosted a private preview reception for its new exhibition entitled “BRAVO: Celebrating San Francisco Opera, Its Italian Roots and Legacy” on April 20th, 2023 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The prestigious San Francisco Opera company, one of our nation’s largest and most admired, was founded by Italian Americans a century ago.

While the Company is celebrating its 2022-2023 Centennial Season, the Museo Italo Americano is honored to recognize the vital role that San Francisco’s Italian community played in creating the institution and fostering the art of opera in our city.

Among the special guests were Consul General for Italy Sergio Strozzi (Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco), A16 Owner Shelley Lindgren, San Francisco Opera President-Elect Jack Calhoun, SF Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock, Chief of Staff for Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, Dan Bernal, SF Opera Patrons Gretchen Kimball, Karen Kubin and Romana Bracco, Museo Patrons Miriam and Andrew Canepa, and Marisa Avansino and Patrick Thomasma, SF Supervisor Catherine Stefani, and surprise guest Lidia Bastianich, Emmy award-winning television host, best-selling cookbook author, and restaurateur.