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Michael Tilson Thomas, the new San Francisco Symphony conductor, poses of a portrait inside the Davies Symphony hall in San Francisco on Nov. 29, 1993. Tilson Thomas sports a San Francisco Giants baseball jacket. He will conduct \u201cFrom the Diary of Anne Frank,\u201d while actress Debra Winger narrates.<\/p>\n
John O’Hara\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
The loss of Michael Tilson Thomas<\/a> is weighing heavily on the Bay Area classical music community and beyond, with many of his friends, collaborators and admirers sharing heartfelt tributes to the conductor online.\u00a0<\/p>\n The longtime San Francisco Symphony music director died on Wednesday, April 22, nearly five years after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor that doctors later identified as glioblastoma multiforme. He was 81.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMichael Tilson Thomas redefined classical music for the modern era,\u201d California Governor Gavin Newsom posted to X on Thursday, April 23. \u201cMichael was bold, innovative, thoughtful and generous. His work will forever play on.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n At Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants honored Thomas ahead of their day game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, holding a stadium-wide moment of silence for the conductor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Michael Tilson Thomas, former Music Director of the SF Symphony, engages with the audience after he conducted one of his final concerts with the orchestra, Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor (1902), at Davies Symphony Hall. On Thursday, January 25, 2024, San Francisco, Calif.<\/p>\n Jana Asenbrennerova\/Special to The Chronicle<\/p>\n \u201cA protege of Leonard Bernstein, Thomas\u2019 legendary career included stints with some of the world\u2019s most renowned ensembles, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics and the London Symphony Orchestra,\u201d Carolyn McArdle, the Giants\u2019 public address announcer, told the San Francisco crowd. \u201cUnder his brilliant leadership, the San Francisco Symphony quickly established its reputation as a world class orchestra.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Thomas was also remembered by a number of his musical colleagues, several of whom thanked the late conductor for his mentorship and guidance.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cherished our time with\u00a0MTT and learned so much working with him to prepare the S&M2 performances,\u201d Metallica wrote on X, referring to the metal band\u2019s 2019 collaboration with Thomas that marked the opening of San Francisco\u2019s Chase Center. \u201cIt was a very high honor to have him on the podium.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n South African opera soprano\u00a0Elza van den Heever similarly reflected on her time working with Thomas.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore walking out on stage,\u00a0MTT gave me the most beautiful piece of wisdom that has stayed with me for my whole career: \u2018somewhere in this audience there is someone who is hearing this music for the first time. Sing for them!,\u2019\u201d she commented on a post announcing Thomas\u2019 death shared to his Instagram account on Thursday, April 23.\u00a0<\/p>\n She collaborated with Thomas and the Symphony on several occasions, and was featured on the orchestra\u2019s Grammy Award-winning recording of Mahler\u2019s Eighth Symphony in 2009.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThank you maestro for your love and generosity!!! You were an inspiration,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n