From world-class performances and breathtaking aerial artistry to haunting projections and Halloween festivities, the sixth annual Death by Aria brought a spectacular evening of music and mystery to San Francisco.

For the past five years, Red Curtain Addict and Taste of Talent have brought their signature Halloween celebration, Death by Aria, to the Green Room at the San Francisco War Memorial. But for its sixth year, we wanted to go bigger than ever!

CLICK ABOVE TO WATCH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS!

On October 28, 2026, we partnered with Grace Cathedral to transform one of San Francisco's most iconic landmarks into a spectacular haunted mansion, bringing together world-class artists, theatrical performances, and plenty of Halloween surprises for our most ambitious Death by Aria yet!

A Haunting Night of Music and Spectacle

At the heart of Death by Aria is one intriguing question: If you could perform one final piece before meeting your fate, what would it be?

Under the musical direction of Ronny Michael Greenberg, who presided over the evening as Gandalf the White, an incredible lineup of artists brought this concept to life through music spanning opera, Broadway, jazz, classical music, tango, and iconic film scores.

From the haunting melodies of The Phantom of the Opera and the dramatic world of Macbeth to the tragic story of Carmen and a playful James Bond-inspired cabaret, audiences experienced a thrilling mix of music and storytelling.

The evening featured soprano Charlotte Kelso, tenors Thomas Kinch and Christopher Oglesby, violinist Eric Silberger, saxophonist Valentin Kovalev, oboist and vocalist Jesse Rex Barrett, and organist Christopher Keady.

One of the evening's biggest highlights came during the grand finale, when the powerful sounds of the medieval Dies Irae, also known as the Song of Death, and the cinematic score of Interstellar filled the cathedral.

The magnificent sounds of Grace Cathedral's pipe organ, combined with a breathtaking aerial performance by Dwoira Galilea Scheffer, made for an unforgettable ending!

Throughout the evening, dramatic projections by Mark Johns illuminated the cathedral's soaring architecture, transforming the space into a haunting visual experience that brought the music and performances to life.

A Halloween Celebration Beyond the Stage

The audience was just as much a part of the Halloween spectacle as the performers! Guests embraced the spirit of the evening, arriving in an incredible array of costumes, from glamorous and theatrical to spooky and imaginative.

The cathedral was filled with characters of all kinds, making for a fun and festive atmosphere as everyone mingled, admired each other's costumes, and explored the transformed space.

And no Halloween celebration would be complete without delicious food and drinks! Guests enjoyed specialty cocktails featuring Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, and Milagro Tequila, along with wines from Freakshow by Michael David Winery and Umbriaso Wines.

The culinary offerings were equally impressive, with savory bites from Blind Butcher and Milos Tavern, beautiful charcuterie creations by Petal & Platter Design, and decadent Brazilian chocolates from Brigadeiro Sprinkles. SnapFiesta added to the fun with an interactive photo booth, giving guests the perfect opportunity to show off their costumes and capture memories from the evening.

Following the performance, the festivities continued as guests mingled with the artists and enjoyed one last opportunity to celebrate inside the haunted cathedral.

A Special Thank You to Our Partners and Supporters

Bringing Death by Aria to Grace Cathedral for the first time was an exciting milestone, and we couldn't have done it without the amazing community of artists, collaborators, and supporters who helped make it possible.

A huge thank you to our presenting partners, Taste of Talent and Grace Cathedral, along with our incredible performers, production team, volunteers, and all of our generous sponsors who helped bring this year's vision to life.

And to everyone who joined us, thank you for making our sixth annual Death by Aria our biggest celebration yet! We loved seeing so many people come together to experience music, creativity, and the performing arts in such a unique setting.

Until next Halloween!