I agree with the comments on Cosi, Traviata, and Pearl Fishers. All have wonderful music. Pearl Fishers was done here in Detroit this spring, and I think SF will be the same production. I wonder why no one recommends Billy Budd? I saw it at Chicago Lyric a couple years ago and thought it excellent. As a 20th century opera, it isn't as melodic as Verdi or Puccini, but tells a great story and a lot of the music is very good. Britten makes more demands on the listener.