San Francisco Opera receives generous donation from winemaker Jan Shrem and business woman Maria Manetti.
$3 Million Donation to San Francisco Opera
By Sean Martinfield – San Francisco Sentinel, September 8, 2011
San Francisco Opera announced that Jan I. Shrem and Maria Manetti Farrow have made a commitment of $3,000,000 to the Company. The news of this gift will be recognized by San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley this evening, Friday, September 9th, from the stage of the War Memorial Opera House. With this gift, Mr. Shrem and Ms. Farrow will assume the volunteer leadership role of Chairs of the Amici di Nicola of Camerata, a group of visionary San Francisco Opera donors who make major gifts to fund the projects that define the Company’s international reputation. They will also establish the Great Interpreters of Italian Opera Fund at San Francisco Opera to support the greatest interpreters of the Italian repertory working in the opera world today.
Amici di Nicola is one of four major funding priorities of Camerata. Members champion and make possible the work of Maestro Nicola Luisotti. As Chairs of Amici di Nicola, Mr. Shrem and Ms. Farrow will fund all of Maestro Luisotti’s San Francisco Opera appearances in the 2012-13 season. Additionally, a 2012-13 production, cast and creative team for an Italian opera will be selected for recognition by Mr. Shrem and Ms. Farrow for their Great Interpreters of Italian Opera Fund.
Jan Shrem added, “I was first introduced to Italian opera nearly sixty years ago as a college student in Salt Lake City. I am so grateful to have the ability today to help others discover great new performances of these eternal works. When Maria and I learned about the Opera’s Camerata program—how we could be especially supportive of the projects Nicola cares most about and Italian opera in particular—we knew we wanted to play a major role.”
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