Press Room

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES LIFTED RESTRICTIONS AND UPDATED SAFETY PROTOCOLS BEGINNING JUNE 24, 2021

TREVOR WESTON SELECTED TO RECEIVE FIRST ANNUAL EMERGING BLACK COMPOSERS PROJECT COMMISSION

World premiere of Weston’s new work to be given by Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony in Fall 2022
 
Additional commissions awarded to Jonathan Bingham,
Shawn Okpebholo, and Sumi Tonooka

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES SUMMER SEASON WITH CONCERTS IN DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL AND OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES AT SIGMUND STERN GROVE AND FROST AMPHITHEATER, JULY 2–AUGUST 13, 2021

ON JULY 4, THE SF SYMPHONY PERFORMS A FREE CONCERT AT SIGMUND STERN GROVE WITH EDWIN OUTWATER CONDUCTING
 
SF SYMPHONY PERFORMS FIVE SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERTS AT FROST AMPHITHEATER, PRESENTED BY STANFORD LIVE, JULY 10–AUGUST 7
 
Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the SF Symphony in concerts at Davies Symphony Hall on July 9 & 16 and at Frost Amphitheater on July 10 & 17

PROGRAM UPDATES FOR LIVE CONCERTS AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL CONDUCTED BY MUSIC DIRECTOR ESA-PEKKA SALONEN, JUNE 17–JUNE 25, 2021

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES PROGRAMMING DETAILS FOR DIGITAL CONTENT ON SFSYMPHONY+ THROUGH THE END OF THE 2020–21 SEASON, WITH NEW RELEASES MAY 27–AUGUST 26, 2021

SoundBox programs curated by Destiny Muhammad, Claire Chase, Nico Muhly, and Jeremy Denk

New episodes of CURRENTS series, exploring Persian classical music and Klezmer musical cultures

Free chamber music performances by members of the San Francisco Symphony

MEMBERSHIPS AND INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS ON SALE NOW AT SFSYMPHONYPLUS.ORG

SFSymphony+ can now be downloaded as an app via the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Firestick, and is available via TV services including Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Chromecast, Roku, and smart TVs

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES ADDED TICKETS AND INCREASED AUDIENCE CAPACITIES FOR LIVE CONCERTS AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL, MAY 6–JUNE 25, 2021
 
Programming announced for May 27–June 25 concerts

CHINYAKARE ENSEMBLE CURATES CURRENTS: MAVAMBO ENGOMA, ROOTED IN MUSIC, AVAILABLE MAY 6 ON SFSYMPHONY+

CURRENTS: Mavambo eNgoma, Rooted in Music explores the intersection of classical and Zimbabwean musical cultures, featuring performances by members of the Chinyakare Ensemble and SF Symphony musicians

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES RETURN TO LIVE CONCERTS AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL, MAY 6–JUNE 25, 2021
 
Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the SF Symphony in live indoor performances for medical professionals and community partners May 6 & 7; program features Jean Sibelius’ Rakastava, George Walker’s Lyric for Strings, Carl Nielsen’s Little Suite for Strings, Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte, and Edvard Grieg’s From Holberg’s Time Suite

Tickets on sale May 6, 2021 for seven additional concert sets led by Jeremy Denk, James Gaffigan, Ken-David Masur, Joseph Young, Joshua Weilerstein, and Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY MUSIC DIRECTOR ESA-PEKKA SALONEN CURATES SOUNDBOX: PATTERNS, AVAILABLE APRIL 15 ON SFSYMPHONY+

Program features Steve Reich’s Clapping Music, Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel, Terry Riley’s In C, and the world premiere of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Saltat sobrius: Fantasy upon Sederunt príncipes, with performances by Salonen, pianist Elizabeth Dorman, SF Symphony musicians, and LINES Ballet dancers Adji Cissoko and Shuaib Elhassan

 SFSymphony+ can now be downloaded as an app via the Apple App Store and Google Play, and is available via TV services including Chromecast and smart TVs

JEROD IMPICHCHAACHAAHA' TATE CURATES CURRENTS: THUNDER SONG, AVAILABLE APRIL 1 ON  SFSYMPHONY+

CURRENTS: Thunder Song explores the intersection of American Indian and classical musical cultures, featuring music by Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, Louis W. Ballard, Rochelle Chester, and from the Pomo tradition
 
Performers include Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, Elders Thomas Leon Brown aka Machuchuk and Ron Montez from the Pomo Elem Indian Colony, and members of the San Francisco Symphony

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY WIN 2021 GRAMMY® AWARD IN THE CATEGORY OF BEST CLASSICAL COMPENDIUM FOR THEIR LIVE CONCERT RECORDING OF TILSON THOMAS’ FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK & MEDITATIONS ON RILKE
 
Recording on SF Symphony’s in-house label SFS Media

SOUNDBOX: LINEAGE, CURATED BY COLLABORATIVE PARTNER JULIA BULLOCK AVAILABLE NOW ON  SFSYMPHONY+

Program includes music by J.S. Bach, Hildegard von Bingen, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Francis Poulenc, Ricky Ian Gordon, Elizabeth Ogonek, Aruán Ortiz, Nina Simone, Esperanza Spalding, and George Walker

SoundBox: Lineage features performances by classical singer Julia Bullock; soprano Natalia Salemmo; mezzo-soprano Silvie Jensen; violinist Benjamin Beilman; pianists Sarah Cahill, Marc Shapiro, and John Wilson; conductor Daniel Stewart; and members of the SF Symphony and Chorus

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY PARTNERS WITH POST:BALLET TO PRESENT PLAYING CHANGES, AVAILABLE FREE BEGINNING MARCH 4 ON SFSYMPHONY+

San Francisco contemporary dance company Post:ballet and San Francisco Symphony violinist Helen Kim bring to life seven interdisciplinary works for solo violin and dance
 
Performance features music by Samuel Adams, Philip Glass, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and LJ White; and world premieres of new works by Ambrose Akinmusire, Mary Kouyoumdjian, and Elizabeth Ogonek

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY RELEASE ALBAN BERG: VIOLIN CONCERTO, SEVEN EARLY SONGS, & THREE PIECES FOR ORCHESTRA ON SFS MEDIA FEBRUARY 26, 2021
 
Gil Shaham performs Berg's Violin Concerto and soprano Susanna Phillips is soloist in Berg's Seven Early Songs

Album recorded in 24-bit/192hHz high-resolution; available in 5.1 surround-capable SACD and for download and streaming via major retailers worldwide
 
Available for pre-order now at sfsymphony.org/berg

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY PRESENTS ANNUAL CHINESE NEW YEAR VIRTUAL CELEBRATION: YEAR OF THE OX, FEBRUARY 20, 2021
 
Program available for free streaming on SFSymphony+ and broadcast locally on NBC Bay Area February 20 at 4pm PST; rebroadcast February 27 at 4pm on NBC Bay Area and KTSF 26 on February 21 & 27 at 3:30pm

Event hosted by Joan Chen; features conductor Ming Luke, erhu player Tao Shi, yangqin player Wenying Wu, pianist Samantha Cho, and members of the San Francisco Symphony

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY AND MUSIC DIRECTOR ESA-PEKKA SALONEN LAUNCH NEW ON-DEMAND STREAMING SERVICE SFSYMPHONY+, FEBRUARY 4, 2021

FEBRUARY—AUGUST 2021 DIGITAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES:
 
Digital SoundBox series with three programs curated by Esa-Pekka Salonen; additional programs curated by Julia Bullock, Destiny Muhammad, Nico Muhly, and Claire Chase
 
New episodes of CURRENTS series, exploring Indian Classical, American Indian, Zimbabwean, Persian, and Klezmer musical cultures
 
Free Chinese New Year Virtual Celebration: Year of the Ox

Free chamber music performances by members of the San Francisco Symphony
 
MEMBERSHIPS ON SALE NOW AT SFSYMPHONYPLUS.ORG

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY MUSIC DIRECTOR ESA-PEKKA SALONEN AWARDED HONORARY KNIGHTHOOD

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY FORMER PRINCIPAL KEYBOARDS OF 46 YEARS ROBIN SUTHERLAND PASSES AWAY

SAKURAKO FISHER CONCLUDES 8-YEAR TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
 
PRISCILLA B. GEESLIN ELECTED 18TH PRESIDENT OF THE SF SYMPHONY

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S SFS MEDIA RECORDINGS NOMINATED FOR TWO 2021 GRAMMY AWARDS
 
BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE FOR COPLAND SYMPHONY NO. 3 AND
BEST CLASSICAL COMPENDIUM FOR MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS’ OWN FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK & MEDITATIONS ON RILKE

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES CANCELLATION OF ALL PREVIOUSLY PLANNED LIVE CONCERTS THROUGH JUNE 30, 2021

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY AND MUSIC DIRECTOR ESA-PEKKA SALONEN PRESENT THROUGHLINE: SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY—FROM HALL TO HOME, NOVEMBER 14 

Concert program features world premiere of Throughline, a new SF Symphony commission composed by Nico Muhly with performances by Esa-Pekka Salonen, all eight Collaborative Partners, and the San Francisco Symphony 

Event to stream free at sfsymphony.org and broadcast locally on KQED Public Television at 7pm PST 

. . .  

Family-friendly Día de los Muertos and Deck the Hall programs to broadcast locally on NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48 and stream free at sfsymphony.org 

Live 1:1 Concerts expand to multiple weekly performance sets at Davies Symphony Hall terraces  

CURRENTS Episodes I—IV to broadcast on NBC Bay Area / Telemundo 48

AMERICAN MASTERS DOCUMENTARY MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS: WHERE NOW IS PREMIERES NATIONWIDE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 AT 6 P.M. PACIFIC TIME (check local listings)

Watch on PBS, pbs.org/americanmasters, and the PBS Video app

Live album and video captured September 6 & 8, 2019 at San Francisco’s Chase Center  
 
Available now via metallica.com/sm2 

Ten composers to receive $15,000 commission, workshops and performances by the San Francisco Symphony or San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and mentorship from trio of Bay Area music directors: Michael Morgan, Edwin Outwater, and Esa-Pekka Salonen

First call for applications open now through December 31, 2020

Click here to access the Online Press Kit, which includes downloadable images and a PDF of this press release. 

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY LAUNCHES SUMMER 2020 PROGRAMMING

Digital programming includes CURRENTS—a four-part series curated and hosted by Michael Morgan in collaboration with San Francisco Symphony musicians and guest artists from the Bay Area  

CURRENTS Video Series and companion Podcast Series explore the intersections between classical music and Chinese, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Mexican musical cultures 

CURRENTS Explore & Create further guides conversations, activities, and opportunities for learning, curated and hosted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser 

Summer programming also features intimate, outdoor 1:1 Concerts performed by San Francisco Symphony musicians to one audience member at a time  

CURRENTS content can be accessed via sfsymphony.org/CURRENTS 

Click here to access the Online Press Kit, which includes downloadable images, artist bios, and a PDF of this press release. 

METALLICA AND SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY: S&M2 
TO BE RELEASED AUGUST 28, 2020 

Live album and video captured September 6 & 8, 2019 at San Francisco’s Chase Center

Available for preorder starting Wednesday, July 15 via metallica.com/sm2

View the S&M2 trailer here

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY APPEARS IN CNN’S THE FOURTH IN AMERICA, JULY 4, 2020

CNN’s The Fourth in America will stream live for subscribers on CNN.com’s homepage, across mobile devices via CNN’s apps for iOS and Android, and can also be viewed on CNNgo, 5pm–9pm PDT / 8pm–12am EDT

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY AND NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC JOIN FORCES FOR A VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE TO COMMEMORATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER, JUNE 26, 2020

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS NAMED OFFICER IN THE ORDRE DES ARTS ET DES LETTRES

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY TO STREAM LIVE JUNE 28 VIRTUAL TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS ON YOUTUBE PREMIERE
 

June 28 virtual event comes on the day that would have marked Michael Tilson Thomas’ final concert as Music Director of the Orchestra, a scheduled performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, Symphony of a Thousand

MTT25: An American Icon will stream free of charge on the San Francisco Symphony’s YouTube channel YouTube.com/SFSymphony on June 28 at 5pm PDT/8 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES CANCELLATION OF ALL CONCERTS THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2020

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY HONORS MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS’ REMARKABLE 25-YEAR TENURE AS MUSIC DIRECTOR WITH MTT25: AN ONLINE TRIBUTE—FEATURING EXPANDED DIGITAL CONTENT, VIRTUAL EVENTS, AND MORE, JUNE 4–28, 2020

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY RELEASE
TILSON THOMAS’ FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK & MEDITATIONS ON RILKE ON SFS MEDIA JUNE 26, 2020

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHINA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA CANCEL THEIR 2020 USA TOURS

MAYORS FROM ACROSS THE NATION SEND JOINT LETTER TO CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES CANCELLATION OF ALL REMAINING 2019–20 SEASON CONCERTS INCLUDING SUMMER WITH THE SYMPHONY

ADDITIONAL CONCERTS AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL ARE CANCELED

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY KDFC ENCORE RADIO BROADCAST SERIES CELEBRATING MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS TO LAUNCH ON APRIL 7

SFS MEDIA DIGITAL CONCERT SERIES AND DYNAMIC SEASON PLAYLIST
CELEBRATES MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS’ 25TH AND FINAL SEASON
AS MUSIC DIRECTOR

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S
KEEPING SCORE TELEVISION SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE GLOBAL ONLINE STREAMING FOR THE FIRST TIME

ALL CONCERTS AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL THROUGH APRIL 30 ARE CANCELED OR POSTPONED

ADDITIONAL SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CONCERTS AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL AFFECTED BY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CANCELS TOUR TO NEW YORK AND EUROPE DUE TO GLOBAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC

CONCERT CANCELLATIONS AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH 25

ALL CONCERTS AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL MARCH 7–20 ARE CANCELED 

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
APRIL–JUNE 2020 CONCERT CALENDAR

LOUIS LANGRÉE MAKES HIS SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CONDUCTING DEBUT IN CONCERTS APRIL 23–25, 2020

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY RELEASE
AARON COPLAND SYMPHONY NO. 3 ON SFS MEDIA MARCH 13, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY AND ESA-PEKKA SALONEN ANNOUNCE 2020–21 SEASON:
SALONEN’S INAUGURAL SEASON AS MUSIC DIRECTOR

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony embark on Final European Tour together with performances in eight countries, March 17–April 7, 2020

Siberian State Symphony Orchestra Concert on March 15 is Canceled

Music Director Designate Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the San Francisco Symphony in two concert programs, February 20–22 & 27–29, 2020 at Davies Symphony Hall

Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet joins the San Francisco Symphony to perform the US premiere of Aaron Zigman's Tango Manos Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, co-commissioned by the SFS, February 14-16 at Davies Symphony Hall

Michael Morgan makes San Francisco Symphony Conducting Debut, leading the Orchestra and Chorus in concerts April 30–May 2, 2020

MURRAY PERAHIA’S MARCH 10 PIANO RECITAL AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL IS CANCELED

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY TO RELEASE ONGOING LIVE CONCERT RECORDINGS FROM 2019–20 SEASON, STARTING JANUARY 10

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS CONDUCTS THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY IN TWO CONCERT PROGRAMS, JANUARY 9–18, AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL

San Francisco Symphony January–March 2020 Concert Calendar

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES 2019–20 MUSIC FOR FAMILIES SERIES, WITH CONCERTS DECEMBER 14, FEBRUARY 29, AND APRIL 4 AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL

GUEST CONDUCTORS TON KOOPMAN, SIMONE YOUNG, AND MANFRED HONECK CONDUCT THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY IN NOVEMBER 2019

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY'S EXPERIMENTAL SOUNDBOX SERIES RETURNS FOR A SIXTH SEASON

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY RELEASE IVES' SYMPHONIES NOS. 3 & 4 ON SFS MEDIA NOVEMBER 8, 2019

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY CONCERT SEASON, NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 31, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY APPOINTS ELIZABETH PESCH AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA WELCOMES DANIEL STEWART AS WATTIS FOUNDATION MUSIC DIRECTOR IN 2019–20 SEASON

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CELEBRATES DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS WITH CONCERT EVENT, LOBBY ART, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, AND SCREENINGS OF DISNEY AND PIXAR'S COCO, NOVEMBER 1 AND 2 AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY'S ANNUAL FILM SERIES FEATURES SCREENINGS OF DISNEY AND PIXAR'S COCO, SONY PICTURES' GHOSTBUSTERS, FRANK CAPRA'S IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, AND RON HOWARD'S APOLLO 13 PERFORMED LIVE TO PICTURE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

GUEST CONDUCTORS KARINA CANELLAKIS, MAREK JANOWSKI, AND CRISTIAN MĂCELARU LEAD THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY IN OCTOBER 2019

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S 2019–20 CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES KICKS OFF SEPTEMBER 29 AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL AND OCTOBER 30 AT THE LEGION OF HONOR’S GUNN THEATER

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS BEGINS HIS 25TH AND FINAL YEAR AS MUSIC DIRECTOR CONDUCTING THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY IN WORKS BY MAHLER, JOHN ADAMS, AND STRAVINSKY IN SEPTEMBER, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY KICKS OFF OPENING WEEK FESTIVITIES WITH OPENING NIGHT GALA ON SEPTEMBER 4, CELEBRATING MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS’ 25TH AND FINAL SEASON AS MUSIC DIRECTOR

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER 2019 SEASON CONCERT CALENDAR

Single tickets for all San Francisco Symphony 2019—20 season concerts—celebrating Michael Tilson Thomas' 25th and final season as Music Director—on sale Monday July 22, via the box office starting at 8AM and online and by phone at 10 am

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY MUSIC DIRECTOR MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS ANNOUNCED AS 2019 KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE

Mariachi Vargas to perform at Davies Symphony Hall, May 5, 2019

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony announce 2019–20 season: celebratory final season of MTT's distinguished 25-year tenure as Music Director

Guest conductors David Robertson, Semyon Bychkov, and Susanna Mälkki lead the San Francisco Symphony