San Francisco Opera has received a major boost through a multi-year multimillion-dollar commitment from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Lori Huang. The announcement was made at a Monkey King event held in the Green Room of the War Memorial Veterans Building. Huang, the founder and chief executive of Nvidia, one of the world’s most influential companies in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, confirmed the pledge during the gathering.
A multi-year annual commitment
This year’s $5 million gift supports the company’s world premiere production of The Monkey King, created by composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang. In future seasons, the Huangs’ annual contribution will fund a broad range of initiatives: mainstage operas, young artist training, community programs such as the Bohème Out of the Box series, and digital media projects. According to the company, this support strengthens its capacity for long-term planning and builds on recent growth in ticket sales and audience engagement.
Role within the Company Sponsors group
With this commitment, the Huangs join San Francisco Opera’s Company Sponsors, a group of major donors whose seven-figure contributions combine annual gifts and endowment support. As part of their involvement, the couple will host several events each year on the War Memorial campus.
Institutional reactions
General Director Matthew Shilvock described the pledge as an affirmation of the company’s creative ambitions at a time when the Bay Area is experiencing a renewed intersection between technology and the arts. Board President Jack Calhoun noted that the support will help sustain the company’s artistic standards while expanding its reach to new audiences.
Board member Maryam Muduroglu highlighted that the gift further strengthens cultural ties between San Francisco, Silicon Valley and international communities.
The success of The Monkey King
The Monkey King, commissioned in partnership with the Chinese Heritage Foundation of Minnesota and produced by San Francisco Opera, opened on 14 November to strong critical reception and has sold out its run of eight performances. The project has already generated more than $3 million in philanthropic support under the leadership of board member Doreen Woo Ho. Performances continue at the War Memorial Opera House through 30 November.
San Francisco Opera presented the world premiere of Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang’s “The Monkey King” on November 14, 2025.
Photo: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera
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