FIRST OFF . . .

Terence McEwen, general director of San Francisco Opera, resigned his post Tuesday. The opera’s board of directors announced his resignation at an afternoon press conference, and a search committee for a successor is being formed. McEwen, 58, cited his “chronic diabetes” for his resignation and is expected to retire to an unspecified Hawaiian locale by midsummer. He will continue his intermission commentaries and features on the company’s radio broadcasts. McEwen is only the third general director in the 66-year history of San Francisco Opera. It was headed by founder Gaetano Merola from 1922 until his death in 1953 and by Kurt Herbert Adler from 1954 until 1981. The Canadian-born McEwen took over from Adler as general director in 1982. Mentioned prominently as possible successors to McEwen, are Lotfi Mansouri, general director of Canadian Opera, and Beverly Sills, the New York City Opera general director.