Behind the scenes at San Francisco Opera, general director Matthew Shilvock sits down with Berkeley-based composer John Adams, as he prepares to unveil his sixth full-length opera: the Shakespeare-inspired "Antony and Cleopatra."

But why did Adams — one of America's preeminent opera composers — decide to adapt Shakespeare anyway? In this interview, Adams explains that it all started with his last world premiere, "Girls of the Golden West," when he injected lines from "Macbeth" into the opera. That led him to consider setting an entire Shakespeare play to music — and he chose his favorite, the politically charged romance of "Antony and Cleopatra."

Eager to see his adaptation? "Antony and Cleopatra" makes its world premiere starting September 10, 2022, as part of San Francisco Opera's 100th season: sfopera.com/cleopatra #CleopatraSF

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