Plan Your Experience
Know Before You Go
Where is the Performance?
Balboa Theatre
868 Fourth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
Click here for directions.
Venue Performances:
Making Merry Concert.
TRAFFIC ALERT: The December Nights event is taking place at Balboa Park from 11 am to 11 pm this Saturday and traffic could be heavy in the area. Please plan accordingly to arrive on time to the Making Merry concert on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm.
San Diego Civic Theatre
1100 3rd Ave (Corner of Third Ave and B Street)
San Diego, CA 92101
Click here for directions.
Venue Performances:
La bohème, Salome, and La traviata
Safety & Security Protocols
Security Screening
San Diego Theatres require all guests attending an event pass through a security screening performed by trained security personnel. This will include, but is not limited to:
- Walk-through or wand metal detection inspection
- Bag Checks (bags should not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″)
- Visual Inspection
- Other screening deemed necessary by security staff
Please view the list of prohibited items.
Patron Services
Patron Services staff will be available at all performances in a popup tent outside (Weather Permitting) the theatre for ticket reprints, exchanges and to answer any questions beginning at 5:30 pm for evening performances and 12:00 pm for the matinee performance.
Your Tickets
You should have received your tickets via e-mail or regular mail. If you have tickets in will call, they can be picked up beginning at 4:30 PM for evening performances and 12:00 PM for matinee performances at the box office at Golden Hall for Civic Theatre performances (located across the plaza from the Civic Theatre), and at the ticket windows for Balboa Theatre performances. If you cannot locate your tickets, please call Patron Services ahead of time at (619) 533-7000 or e-mail tickets@sdopera.org. If your tickets were e-mailed, you can present your ticket on your mobile device or print it out and bring it with you to allow for easy entrance into the performance.
Digital Program
Click to view the current performance’s program ahead of time.
Pre-Opera Talk
The pre-opera talk for Civic Theatre performances will begin in the main floor seating area at 6:40 PM for the evening performances and at 1:10 PM for the Sunday 2:00 PM matinee performances. The talks for La bohème and Salome will be led by Michael Gerdes, Director of Orchestras at San Diego State University.
Post-Opera Talk-Back
Stay after the Civic Theatre performances on Saturday and Sunday for a Talk-Back. Once the curtain falls, there will be a 10-minute break, then join us in the front of the Dress Circle section where you can ask questions of the stars and cast (subject to availability), and find out what really happened onstage and backstage during the performance!
Subscriber Exchanges
Contact Patron Services at (619) 533-7000 for exchanging your tickets to another performance of the same opera.
Accessibility
Seating: Dedicated Accessible Wheelchair Seating is available on the main floor of the Balboa Theatre. Side Orchestra Transfer Seating is available on the main floor Orchestra level, on both right and left aisles, of the San Diego Civic Theatre.
Audio Enhancement: The Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatre are equipped with an assisted listening system for the hearing impaired. Headsets are available from event staff in the lobby areas prior to performances (headsets are loaned at no charge, on a first-come, first-served basis, with photo ID required).
Binoculars (San Diego Civic Theatre): Binoculars are available to check out at no charge from the coat check in the San Diego Civic Theatre main lobby at all performances.
Large Print Programs: Large print programs are available for no charge and can be picked up from event staff in the lobby of the Balboa Theatre and the San Diego Civic Theatre.
Audio Description Service (San Diego Civic Theatre): San Diego Opera is proud to offer this unique service at all Civic Theatre performances for ticketed patrons with visual disabilities. The service begins 15 minutes before curtain and provides verbal readings of the Program and synopsis of the opera, along with a “Play-by-Play” description of the action on-stage during the performance. All description is discreetly placed between singing. To use this FREE service, simply pick up a small headset from the Coat Check no later than 15 minutes prior to curtain. Note: headsets are limited and are distributed on a “first come/first served” basis.
What to Wear
Your finest outfit, jeans, or party attire – wear what you like but, to help you decide, check your 10-day weather forecast.
Grab a Bite Before the Opera
Food and beverage will be available for purchase inside of the Balboa Theatre.*
Standard menu options available include signature and premium cocktails, wines as well as local craft brews along with a variety of snacks and desserts. Please be aware that the theatre has implemented a cashless payment system. Bars and concession stands accept debit and credit cards, including major contactless and mobile payment methods. *Please note that you will not be allowed to take food to your seat inside the theatre.
For other downtown dining options, please visit these San Diego dining guides:
San Diego Restaurants
OpenTable
San Diego Eater
Need More Info?
Please call us at 619-533-7000, Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Getting to the Opera
How Do I Get There?
Directions to the Civic Theatre
Directions to the Balboa Theatre
Where Do I Park?
San Diego Civic Theatre
Free street parking is available after 6:00 pm on weekdays and all day on Sundays. Easy, accessible parking is also available in the Civic Center Plaza Garage for $15 flat rate and there are other parking options around the Civic Theatre as well.
Balboa Theatre
Parking is available at 225 Broadway Garage for $10 but requires a slightly longer walk to the theatre. More accessible parking is located at Horton Plaza Garage, 300 G Street. Horton Plaza Garage is closer but may have longer wait times. Advance parking passes can be purchased here.
Transportation Options
San Diego Opera Caravan
Join The “Car-Free” crowd! The Opera Caravan is an exclusive motor coach service from North County to San Diego Opera. The Opera Caravan service is available to the Sunday matinee of the Main Stage performances from Carlsbad Dove Library (1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad 92011) and The Remington Club in Rancho Bernardo (16916 Hierba Drive, San Diego 92128). Roundtrip cost is $35 for subscribers and $40 for non-subscribers. To join the Opera Caravan, please contact Matt Kissel at 619-533-7000 or Matt.Kissel@sdopera.org.
Renting a Bus
Bypass finding parking entirely by renting a private minibus or shuttle for your group. For more information about pricing, group rates, and finding group transportation to a San Diego Opera venue, visit National Charter Bus San Diego or call 619-344-0549. Other charter bus rental providers in the area include San Diego Charter Bus Company or call 619-209-7804 and GOGO Charters San Diego or call 619-312-4991.
Taking the Trolley
The Trolley stops just behind the Civic Theatre (Civic Center station on the Orange and Blue lines). The Coaster stops at Santa Fe Station, just 5 blocks away and connects with the Trolley (with free transfers). For more information, schedules, prices and accessibility options, call San Diego Transit at 619-234-1060 or visit www.sdcommute.com. For ADA certification call 877-232-7433.
Taking Amtrak
Ride in luxury to Santa Fe Station, just blocks away from the San Diego Civic Theatre for Main Stage productions. For a complete list of destinations, routes and schedules for the Pacific Surfliner® visit Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner® runs 11 roundtrips a day from Los Angeles and points in between but please note, the last trains leave San Diego at 9:15 pm.
Hotels
Make your evening at the opera a true “night on the town”! San Diego Opera suggests some of the best downtown hotels.
The US Grant
326 Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
619-232-3121
Inspire your senses at The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, located just one block from the San Diego Opera’s Civic Theatre. Welcoming guests to downtown San Diego for more than 100 years, The US Grant, San Diego is an upscale hotel distinguished by quiet glamour and enduring sophistication. Located near San Diego’s vibrant Gaslamp Quarter, our hotel provides an ideal location from which to explore the city. One block from the Civic Theatre!
The Westgate Hotel
1055 Second Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
619-238-1818
Cherished memories are made here. Welcome and bienvenue to a peaceful sanctuary on the edge of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, where you’ll enjoy a world-class combination of friendliness, comfort and unique heritage elegance. Custom built in 1970 as a peerlessly chic recreation of France’s legendary Palace of Versailles, we pride ourselves on the distinctively European ambiance conjured by our French antiques, Flemish and French tapestries, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, exquisite Persian carpets and heartfelt hospitality. Easily accessible by freeway, train and trolley, The Westgate Hotel is within easy walking distance of The San Diego Opera and Symphony, The Museum of Contemporary Art and the historic vibrancy of San Diego’s Gaslamp quarter. Just steps away from the Civic Theatre!
The Bristol Hotel
1055 First Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
619-232-6141
Immerse yourself in all that Downtown San Diego has to offer with your stay at The Bristol San Diego – a truly one-of-a-kind boutique hotel. Walkable to Gaslamp District, Little Italy, Petco Park, San Diego Convention Center, Waterfront Park. Newly renovated guest rooms celebrate the lifestyle and mood of the 1960s with a Southern California twist! 2 blocks from the Civic Theatre.
The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
910 Broadway Circle
San Diego, CA 92101
619-239-2220
Escape the everyday and travel with confidence to The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. Our downtown hotel is the ideal destination to relax, recharge and explore San Diego. 2 blocks from the Civic Theatre.
The Westin San Diego Bayview
400 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
619-239-4500
Take your travel experience to a whole new level when you stay at The Westin San Diego Bayview. Our upscale hotel boasts a prime location in the heart of downtown San Diego near the Gaslamp Quarter and a variety of shopping and dining options. 5 blocks from the Civic Theatre.
Hotel Republic
421 West B Street
San Diego, CA 92101
619-398-3100
Unpretentious but prestigious, Hotel Republic San Diego, Autograph Collection seamlessly blends contemporary comfort and boutique sophistication. Embrace excitement just steps from our hotel, courtesy of our convenient location. Discover the vibrant restaurant scene in nearby Little Italy or dance the night away at the Gaslamp Quarter, downtown’s premier entertainment district. 4 blocks from the Civic Theatre.
The Sofia Hotel
150 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
800-826-0009
The Sofia Hotel’s 211 modern guest rooms are designed to reflect a comfortable, chic feel with natural influences, invoking a sense of harmony and balance. 4 blocks from the Civic Theatre.
Courtyard by Marriott – San Diego Downtown
530 Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
800-321-2211
The reinvented Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown welcomes guests with the sophisticated comfort of modern accommodations. From the moment you step through the revolving front doors, you will be whisked away to an inviting and intimate space to unwind, gather your thoughts, or share a laugh and a beverage with friends. Located in the heart of downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp District, the Courtyard places more than 100 shopping and entertainment venues at your doorstep. 5 blocks from the Civic Theatre.
Why do we use Supertitles?
Can’t speak French? Neither can we! That’s why we have Supertitles; we want to be sure you understand every word of the performance. Supertitles are translated lyrics or dialogue projected above the stage in English and Spanish and make it easy to follow the opera. In addition to translating operas from their original Italian or French, we use supertitles even when the opera is sung in English.
Fun Facts:
- Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon) in 2013 was the first opera that San Diego Opera presented with bilingual English and Spanish supertitles.
- The word “surtitle” comes from the French language “sur”, meaning “over” or “on”, and the English language word “title”, formed in a similar way to the related subtitle.
- One of San Diego Opera’s favorite directors, Lotfi Mansouri, then general director of the Canadian Opera Company, introduced this innovation to opera in their January 1983 staging of Elektra.
- Supertitles are also called Surtitles, and that word is a trademark of the Canadian Opera Company.
- New York City Opera was the first American opera company to use supertitles in 1983.
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