Make a left at MTT Way
OrchestrasThe conductor Michael Tilson Thomas has been immortalised by the city of San Francisco.
The street in his name is opposite Symphony Hall, where MTT was music director for 25 years.
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A splendid tribute. Let’s see more of this.
Can we please have done, finally, with personality cults.
Frankly, the self branding of one’s one name as a trademark (“MTT”) was always narcissistic. As if we can’t tell that that was some publicist’s idea, which he agreed to and supported. To put it on a street sign just plays to the stereotypes of classical music as elitist: you would only know who “MTT” is, or even that it’s a person, if you attend the SF Symphony or are a classical music fan. Frankly, calling it “Michael Tilson Thomas Way” would be far more elegant and a more fitting tribute to the actual man. 10 years after his (presumably fast approaching) death, few people will remember that “MTT” = Michael Tilson Thomas.
Yes, he’s a great conductor and much loved. Doesn’t change the fact that he is still an infamous narcissist who stayed at SFS far too long, creating in particular a backstage culture of walking on eggshells and maestro worship. If you can find anyone else who has worked with him who will admit this while he is still alive, it will be remarkable, which only proves what I’m saying. Again, down with personality cults. It helps no one.