Michael Tilson Thomas will bow out with Mahler’s 5th
NewsIt was announced today that MTT has cancelled two of three planned weeks with the San Francisco Symphony this winter.
He still intends, however, to conduct Mahler’s Fifth Symphony on January 25 to 27. These will be his last subscription performances with the orchestra that he led for quarter of a century, stepping down in 2020.
MTT, who turns 79 tomorrow, is suffering from glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer.
His last performances? What is your source?
SF Symphony press room.
In SF, he has gigs in LA, the NWS and San Diego in the Spring that are not off the table, though if he fulfills them I bet the programs will be revised.
A fitting conclusion to a remarkable career. Thank you, MTT, for everything.
I somehow still think of MTT as a young man, which I guess indicates how old I am, and feel, as musicians like MTT and Barenboim I once thought as young – and somehow have remained in my mind as perennially young – are increasingly getting sick and dying. It is so damned sad and depressing.
Ich auch.
I agree with you. It greatly pains me to see these great musicians slowly fading in front of my eyes. For that matter how about the elder statesman Herbert Blomstedt 96 who may never conduct again. This is upsetting to me as well. How much longer will Mehta be able to conduct?
They are not being replaced either.
They are replacable Same as so many generations ago..No one is irreplacable. Music changes and transforms all the time.and MTT would be the first to agree.
Yes, replaced with DEI nightmares that bring trash “music” to the stages, and nothing to remember but what the drag queen wore to the symphony. Classical music is dying a slow, painful, public death.
Take note of the name Euan Shields, age 25. Japanese by birth, Californian by upbringing, he completed a BM in Cello Performance at UCLA where he got his first conducting experience. Now he’s doing grad work at Juilliard and has just been named Asst Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra.
Me, too.
I can still picture him on album covers, with black, longish hair.
And…inevitable. No one lives forever or should want to!
Yes, I feel the same about them. They’ve been around for so long and contributed so much, but then I’m now 70 myself! It all catches up on you from out of no where… oh, well…
Awful. The same cance that took the great Neil Peart. Sad news
I have it on good authority that he’s supposed to open the next CSO season, despite the pending announcement of either a new Music Director or Principal conductor. I’m sure CSO has a backup plan but he doesn’t seem to be done quite yet…
Artists are booked far in advance. Until they are at the point that it appears they cannot fill their obligations it’s a go!
If it is new Music Director, it’s Thielemann, if it’s new Principal Conductor, it’s van Zweden, although why they’d need a Principal Conductor is beyond me, that’s what they’re paying a Music Director Emeritus for Life for.
Thought Emeritus was just one of those respectful titles people get in all walks of life, including when we had two popes at one time recently, one being retired but Emeritus for life??? Maybe I’m wrong.
What, with brain cancer????? Honestly great if he’s well enough but ..
MTT has been honoured with his own street
https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/mtt-way-sf-symphony-18547949.php
What coprophagous philistine would downvote your comment or the idea of MTT getting a street named after him??
What better Symphony to bow out on? A masterpiece. Both Mahler and Elgar stand as the greatest late Romantic composers. Hand in hand they are symmetry, be it emotional, pained, outdated of their era, or as Catholics – two great musicians who enriched the world. I beg MTT to play Elgar 2 as an Encore!!!!!
Mahler 5 is probably the weakest within Mahler’s corpus.
bollocks
Agreed. Recommend listening to Abbado/Chicago to see what could have been had he replaced Solti. Herseth/Clevenger/Friedman/Jacobs at their absolute finest!
Is that a technical term, Norman?
Ask the Naked Maestro
All Mahler’s symphonies are masterworks of the highest order. My favourite is the 8th, I love the way the climaxes in Accende lumen sensibus spill over. Or how about the gothic 2nd, or the opening to the 7th with that gorgeous tenor horn, or the finale of the 4th, or the 3rd movement of the 9th where the trio melody in the trumpet probably inspired the E.T flying theme.
Re Mahler 8: I once interviewed Bernard Haitink and he said “how could you follow that?”, referring to the great ending of (i). After making the Phhilips LPs I don’t think he conducted it again.
He did it at least one more time: in 1988 (17 years after the Philips recording).
https://youtu.be/vjbc5qrFJK8?si=Jk0giL4tRlCbSYwf
And on the other hand, when Ivan Fischer “completed” his Mahler cycle, he was asked when the 8th would come out. His answer: it wouldn’t, as he feels no sympathy with it.
MTT was supposed to conduct Mahler #8 for his “graduation concert” as MD. However, fate intervened–Covid forced its cancellation. Really sad.
Yes, I’d love him to do Elgar 2, I don’t think he has done it, he’s recorded some Delius.
It is my profound prayer that his M5 is one for the ages and will be recorded. I wish him all the very best.
What many don’t realize is MTT has been really, really unpleasant to those who work behind the scenes – to assistants, managers, producers, journalists, even members of orchestras. He has a friendly, warm public image but behind the scenes, it’s quite a different story. I’ll leave it there out of respect for his situation.
I have never seen that in London.
I have
good for you
I can’t quite work out what you mean with that slightly vague comment?
My late wife interviewed him at length at his London home. Backstage at an LSO concert interval he greeted her again, saying “This is where they’ll see I cannot do it!”, as he made his way back. to the platform….
Oh gosh . . . thank you so much for sharing. Why not dump some more after he’s dead?
Maxim Rysanov, the violist, and Klaus Mäkelä are fine “newer” conductors. MTT is a treasure, and I’m sad that generation is fading.
Klaus Mäkelä could sh!t on a stage and you people would clap.
Good grief. Why not simply accept that people of sound musical judgement can differ in their tastes?
MTT: Thank you for the music!
Good conductor. His Keeping Score series on DVD is excellent. Essential viewing for anyone into music.
Thank you seems not nearly enough for the beautiful force of nature that is MTT. I am so grateful for his wisdom, humor, passion and remarkable talent. He will be a gift to us always.
Well, it´s only his final performance with the SFS..His website has been updated in December and lists a few more performances, among them with the San Diego Symphony(!) next spring!
Great news to hear. Thank you.
I have no special affection for Mr Thomas or his music making, but he deserves all sympathy for this particular ailment, which is a truly awful one. In the US Senate, it is what felled Kennedy and McCain, and another conductor who lost out to it was Charles Ansbacher of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra.
very sad news. id rather see him do Mahlers Secondi
Wishing maestro a restoration of his health.