San Francisco Opera in California, US, has announced that Jeannik Méquet Littlefield has pledged US$35m (£18.7m, 27.8m euro) to the company.

This is the single largest commitment ever made by an individual to San Francisco Opera, and possibly the largest to any American opera company.

SFO president George Hume said: “On behalf of the entire company, I want to express my enormous gratitude to Mrs Littlefield. Her generosity is driven by her passion for opera and her unwavering devotion to this company. Such inspiring leadership sets a standard. It reminds us all of our obligations to opera and to the opera-loving community, and in doing this it points our company toward the future.”

Littlefield responded: “San Francisco Opera is very important to me, so it was particularly meaningful to provide support to ensure its future for generations to come. I have always loved opera and am so very grateful to be able to participate now in contributing towards a brilliant future for San Francisco Opera.”

Littlefield inaugurated the company sponsorship programme at San Francisco Opera in 2002 and has since made numerous gifts to the company. Details: www.sfopera.com