Good New for the Merola Program

The Merola Program of San Francisco Opera has received a pair of bequests totally almost $3.5 million. From the Jack H. Lund Charitable Trust comes about $2.49 million; from the Blanche Thebom Trust comes a bit over $1 million.

Lund was a long-time opera fan and collector of opera memorabilia; Thebom, a mezzo-soprano, had a long and distinguished career as a singer.

Other good news is that the Merolini will perform two fully staged operas this summer (and I have never seen either): Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera and Argento's Postcard from Morocco.

While we're at it, here's the Merola summer schedule:

SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT

Thursday, July 5, 7:30 PM
Herbst Theatre
$40/$25

OUTDOOR SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT

Saturday, July 7, 2:00 PM
Yerba Buena Gardens

FREE

POSTCARD FROM MOROCCO

by Dominick Argento
Libretto by John Donahue
Thursday, July 19, 8:00 PM
Saturday, July 21, 2:00 PM
Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center
$60/$40  

LA FINTA GIARDINIERA

by W. A. Mozart
Thursday, August 2, 8:00 PM
Saturday, August 4, 2:00 PM
Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center
$60/$40  

MEROLA GRAND FINALE

Saturday, August 18, 7:30 PM
War Memorial Opera House
$45 Orchestra Premium and Grand Tier Premium

$35 Orchestra and Grand Tier
$25 Dress Circle