Daniel Müller-Schott’s and Daniele Rustioni’s appearances are generously supported by the Shenson Young Artist Debut Fund.
Inside Music talks are supported in memory of Horacio Rodriguez.
Brahms 2 & Dvořák’s Cello Concerto
March 13 & 15, 2026
Overview
Making their respective debuts, Italian conductor Daniele Rustioni and German cellist Daniel Müller-Schott join the San Francisco Symphony in Dvořák’s wrenching and radiant Cello Concerto, a paragon of the Romantic cello repertoire. Although it was conceived in the United States, its beating heart belongs to the homesick composer’s native Bohemia. Brahms composed the Second Symphony on summer holiday in the Austrian province of Carinthia, where he awoke at dawn to swim in Lake Wörth, gorge on fresh crab in the afternoon, and hike for hours. A work of bittersweet depth, the Second revels in bright sunshine and lingers in cool shadows.Concert Extras
An Inside Music Talk with Benjamin Pesetsky, Associate Director of Editorial at the SF Symphony, will be presented on stage one hour before each concert.
As part of these talks, soprano Morgan Balfour and pianist Allegra Chapman will perform Brahms’s “Wiegenlied” (Lullaby), Opus 49, no.4, and Dvořák’s “Kéž duch můj sám,” Opus 82, no.1. Free to all ticketholders.
As part of these talks, soprano Morgan Balfour and pianist Allegra Chapman will perform Brahms’s “Wiegenlied” (Lullaby), Opus 49, no.4, and Dvořák’s “Kéž duch můj sám,” Opus 82, no.1. Free to all ticketholders.
Sponsors
Daniel Müller-Schott, cello
San Francisco Symphony
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Daniele Rustioni
Conductor
Daniele Rustioni is principal guest conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, principal guest conductor designate of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, music director emeritus of Opéra National de Lyon, music director laureate of the Ulster Orchestra, and conductor emeritus of the Orchestra della Toscana in Florence.
Highlights this season include appearances with Orchestre National de France, the Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony, BBC Symphony, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and La Scala. In recent seasons, he has debuted with the London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Philharmonia Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, Hallé Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has led operas at most of the leading international opera houses, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Opèra National de Paris; Berlin State Opera; Zurich Opera; Dutch National Opera; and Teatro Real.
Rustioni’s most recent recording was with mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina for her debut album on Decca. His discography includes a variety of repertoire for Deutsche Grammophon, Dynamic, Unitel, Opus Arte, and Opera Rara. His recordings of rediscovered Italian symphonic composers of the 20th century on Sony Classical received critical acclaim. In 2022, Naxos released his recording of Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel at Opéra National de Lyon.
Rustioni was born in Milan and began his career in 1993 as a member of La Scala’s children’s chorus. He continued his studies at the Milan Conservatory, La Scala Academy, Sienna’s Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and London’s Royal Academy of Music.
Highlights this season include appearances with Orchestre National de France, the Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony, BBC Symphony, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and La Scala. In recent seasons, he has debuted with the London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Philharmonia Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, Hallé Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has led operas at most of the leading international opera houses, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Opèra National de Paris; Berlin State Opera; Zurich Opera; Dutch National Opera; and Teatro Real.
Rustioni’s most recent recording was with mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina for her debut album on Decca. His discography includes a variety of repertoire for Deutsche Grammophon, Dynamic, Unitel, Opus Arte, and Opera Rara. His recordings of rediscovered Italian symphonic composers of the 20th century on Sony Classical received critical acclaim. In 2022, Naxos released his recording of Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel at Opéra National de Lyon.
Rustioni was born in Milan and began his career in 1993 as a member of La Scala’s children’s chorus. He continued his studies at the Milan Conservatory, La Scala Academy, Sienna’s Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and London’s Royal Academy of Music.
Daniel Müller-Schott
Cello
Highlights of Daniel Müller-Schott’s 2025–26 season include appearances with the London Symphony, National Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and Czech Philharmonic, as well as chamber music with Maxim Vengerov and friends at Carnegie Hall. He tours Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, playing with the WDR Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Adelaide Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony, and Aukland Philharmonic. The Vevey Spring Classic Festival, which he founded together with conductor Wilson Hermanto, will have its fifth season in 2026. Müller-Schott is a regular guest soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Bavarian State Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, among others. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in July 2011, appeared with Anne-Sophie Mutter on the Great Performers Series in January 2020, and makes his SF Symphony orchestral series debut with this program.
Müller-Schott not only performs cello concertos from the Baroque to the modern era, but is also keen to discover unknown works and collaborate with the composers of our time. George Alexander Albrecht, André Previn, and Peter Ruzicka have all dedicated cello concertos to him. His discography has been honored with numerous international awards, with an upcoming recording of works by Boccherini, Geminiani, Vivaldi, and Bach on the Orfeo International label.
Müller-Schott received the Aida Stucki Prize from the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation and won first prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in 1992. He plays the “Ex Shapiro” Matteo Goffriller cello, made in Venice in 1727.
Müller-Schott not only performs cello concertos from the Baroque to the modern era, but is also keen to discover unknown works and collaborate with the composers of our time. George Alexander Albrecht, André Previn, and Peter Ruzicka have all dedicated cello concertos to him. His discography has been honored with numerous international awards, with an upcoming recording of works by Boccherini, Geminiani, Vivaldi, and Bach on the Orfeo International label.
Müller-Schott received the Aida Stucki Prize from the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation and won first prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in 1992. He plays the “Ex Shapiro” Matteo Goffriller cello, made in Venice in 1727.
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