Dr. Kip Cranna
Dramaturg Emeritus
(Scholar in Residence)
of San Francisco Opera
About Kip Cranna
Clifford “Kip” Cranna is Dramaturg Emeritus at the San Francisco Opera. He joined the company in 1979, serving as Director of Music Administration and later Dramaturg, planning each season’s schedule of rehearsals and performances, managing the commissions of new operas, and supervising the music staff, orchestra, chorus, and dancers. He holds a PhD from Stanford University in musicology and writes and lectures frequently about opera. He teaches courses on opera appreciation at Stanford Continuing Studies, the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) at U.C. Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and Dominican University. He is the recipient of several awards, including the San Francisco Opera Medal in 2008.
Upcoming Events
*Puccini, Please! The Life, Times, and Music of the World’s Favorite Opera Composer
Stanford Continuing Studies (Online only)
Tuesdays, 7:00 PM (8 classes)
January 27-March 17, 2026
*Spotlight on Leitmotifs: Another Look at Wagner’s "Ring”
Boston Wagner Society: (Online Only)
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 2:00 PM Eastern
Viva Verdi: Opera and the Birth of Modern Italy
Opera Weekends at ECCO, Oakhurst, California (Near Yosemite)
May 15-17, 2026
The Quest for the Grail: A New Look at Parsifal
Triangle Wagner Society (North Carolina) (in person)
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Puccini, Please: The Life and Times of the World’s Favorite Opera Composer
Opera Weekends at ECCO, Oakhurst, California (Near Yosemite)
October 16-18, 2026
Services
Expert consultancy in opera dramaturgy.
Commissioning Consultant for New Operas and Musicological Advice on Classsic Works
Engaging talks on opera and dramaturgy.
Get in touch
