MTT is back
OrchestrasAfter a short break to deal with grave medical issues, Michael Tilson Thomas is conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this weekend. Mozart and Brahms on the menu.
photo: John Yeh
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What an inspiration!
Often wonder why people give such a comment a thumbs down! MTT truly is an inspiration, especially with his current health issues. And a fantastic musician, to boot.
As I’m writing this, there are five “thumbs down” ratings for WP’s post, and I’m left wondering what kind of human being would give a “thumbs down” rating to a one-sentence post which uses the word “inspiration[al]” to describe an obviously beloved conductor who continues to make classical music while dealing with a lethal medical ailment.
But then, that kind of thing happens all too frequently in this site’s comments sections.
And even your comment has managed to get a few thumbs down. People are so weird, at times!
I was there Thursday night, front row center. It was great!
Welcome back MTT; I hope there will be many more appearances!
Excellent. I guess it’s safe to assume he is now cleared to fly so, hopefully, we’ll see more of him outside of San Francisco.
He was in absolute top form!!!!!
So glad to see him
Bravo!!
I was so happy to see him yesterday. He was a bit weak and needed a helper to get off the podium but he looked good and did not even have to sit down during the program! Loved his Brahms PQ1 (Schoenberg arr. ). There was a respect and love in the hall from audience as well as the band members.
What wonderful news!
May the Lord bless you dear Maestro, wishing you tons of good health!
The first night was a total disappointment. I’ve heard him conduct the famous Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet and this performance was the worst. It was great to see him conducting again. His passion is admirable. My favorite moment was when he told musicians “take it easy and enjoy”…like being in a rehearsal.
Still it’s a mystery to me why so many musicians are being diagnosed with cancer recently?
Great news! Continued thoughts and best wishes to MTT.
Amazing !
*Brahms/Schoenberg
I wish him only the best. he is a fine conductor and a great example of how to handle adversity.
I also remember Dmitry H soldiering on, broken arm in sling, until the last. What a HUGE loss that was!!
I was at the concert yesterday afternoon, and it was one of those concerts that will stay with me forever. Obviously, we all cheer Michael on, and his positivity and commitment to music, as well as his extraordinary generosity are just as they were before, but what’s really important to mention is that all of that aside, it was also an exquisite afternoon of music making. This is the same conductor whose musicality I fell in love with as a young teenager – and the outstanding playing, and the supportive energy of the inspirational group that the CSO is obviously helps. The Mozart dances were full of both elegance and humor, the concerto was really as sensitive and yearning and indeed as human as I’ve ever heard it; but the Brahms-Schoenberg really stole the show. It was just slightly slower than I’ve heard him do it before, and as a result, it was even more lyrical and passionate, with lots of character and humor in the last movement (before starting he revved his feet like a cartoon character about to charge!), but it is the 3rd movement that sent me into full tears. Truly transcendental, with long, long lines and architecture, no over-conducting or micro-management but still an epic amount of line and seem less legato that weaved on and on, and culminations timed just perfectly to create the most emotionally impactful and heart-rendering moments of almost blinding beauty. I love MTT so much, in equal measure a phenomenal human and artist, and we are so lucky to get to hear these concerts right now. Going again tonight and wish I could go many more times after that! If you’re anywhere near Chicago please take the opportunity to catch this – you won’t regret it. Everything a concert should be – great music with a spirit of inspiration, and tremendous love and support for one another.
*seamless
Thank you for such a glowing tribute to such an inspiring conductor. We loved him in San Francisco for 25 years, and continuing. He returns home after the Chicago concerts and will conduct the SFO in Beethoven’s PC #3 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #4 on January 18-20. Seong-Jin Cho is the soloist. It’s probably sold out, but check the SFO website for updates.
Thank you so much Donald! I just love him so much. And he believed in me first, before anyone else did, and purely out of the kindness of his heart. He gave me his baton from the concert last night and insisted I have it as long as I promise to use it for great music making
I am very much working on coming to the January SF concert – i will have to move some things around, but I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
In my earlier post I didn’t give other SF Symphony concerts. A week later the program is Mahler’s 5th Symphony and Schoenberg’s Five Pieces for Orchestra. A month later Julia Fischer will be the soloist in Bruch’s VC #1. Music by Mozart, Beethoven and Stravinsky (Pulcinella) complete the program.
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