The concerts, scheduled for June 18, 20 and 21 at Davies Symphony Hall, will be conducted by James Gaffigan. The program features soprano Jessica Faselt, mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor, tenor Thomas Cooley and bass Peixin Chen, along with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, led by director Jenny Wong.
Thomas, known widely as MTT, died April 22 at his San Francisco home, nearly five years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor later identified as glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, according to the Symphony. He was 81
The Beethoven dedication is the first announced Symphony tribute since his death. The orchestra said plans for a separate concert celebrating Thomas’ life and lasting influence will be shared later.
Thomas first conducted the San Francisco Symphony in 1974, leading Mahler’s Ninth Symphony at age 29. He became music director in 1995 and held the post until 2020, the longest tenure in the orchestra’s history. After stepping down, he remained connected to the institution as music director laureate.
In 2022, Thomas returned to Davies Symphony Hall to conduct Beethoven’s Ninth, one of several late-career appearances after his cancer diagnosis.
During his years with the orchestra, Thomas expanded the Symphony’s artistic reach, championed American and contemporary composers, launched its in-house recording label and led an acclaimed Mahler recording cycle that won multiple Grammy Awards. He also created “Keeping Score,” a multimedia project designed to make classical music more accessible.
“MTT didn’t just lead the Symphony,” Board Chair Priscilla Geeslin said in a statement after his death. “He became part of the cultural fabric of San Francisco itself, expanding what it meant to be an orchestra in a city like ours. His impact reached far beyond the concert hall, touching the life of the city in ways both visible and deeply personal.”
An “Inside Music Talk” with Scott Foglesong of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music will be presented onstage one hour before each performance. The pre-show event is free to ticketholders.