This season marks Marin Alsop’s sixth as chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, which she leads at Vienna’s Musikverein and Konzerthaus; her second as artistic director and chief conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony; her second as principal guest conductor of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra; and her first as principal guest conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She is also chief conductor of the Ravinia Festival, where she leads the Chicago Symphony’s annual summer residencies, and is the first music director of the National Orchestral Institute and Festival at the University of Maryland.

In 2021, Alsop became music director laureate of the Baltimore Symphony, which she continues to conduct each season. In 2019, after seven years as music director of Brazil’s São Paulo Symphony, Alsop was named “conductor of honour,” and continues to undertake major projects there each season. Deeply committed to new music, she was music director of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music for 25 years, leading 174 premieres.

Recognized with Grammy, Classical BRIT, and Gramophone awards, Alsop’s discography comprises more than 200 titles. The first and only conductor to receive a MacArthur Fellowship, Alsop has also been honored with the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award and honorary doctorates from Yale University and the Juilliard School. She makes her San Francisco Symphony subscription series debut with this program.

Gabriela Montero’s recent and upcoming highlights include performances of her own Latin Concerto with the New World Symphony, Vienna Radio Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, Antwerp Symphony, and Swedish Radio Symphony. Other appearances have included the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Houston Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, amond many other groups. In January 2009, she was a featured performer at Barack Obama’s inauguration, and she made her San Francisco Symphony debut the following July.

Montero’s most recent album, released on Orchid Classics, features her Latin Concerto and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major. Her first orchestral composition, Ex Patria, won a Latin Grammy for Best Classical Album, and in 2008, she also received a Grammy nomination for her album Baroque.