Emanuel Ax Nails Early Work by Beethoven
2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven, a composer who casts a long shadow over music—challenging, inspiring, haunting, and setting the bar … Read more
San Francisco Symphony
MTT Reflects on Upcoming San Francisco Symphonys’ Homage to Rilke
Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) leads the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) in two multi-faceted programs this January at Davies Symphony Hall. On January 9–12, Artist-in-Residence mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and … Read more
Interview With a Diva: Sasha Cooke Shares Rare Insights on SFO and SFS Productions
As we have noted elsewhere in Cultural Currents, Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke has earned acclaim for a wide variety of roles with San Francisco Opera, and … Read more
Lang Lang Returns to Davies Symphony Hall
Four years ago, Cultural Currents gave this story the headline: Lang Lang is Great Great…. San Francisco Symphony subscribers were out in full force last … Read more
SFS Gala Was a Classic City Event
Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony celebrated the start of their 25th season together on Wednesday, September 4, with an Opening Night Gala … Read more
San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Gala is a Salute to MTT
The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) and Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) kick off their 25th season together with the Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, September 4. The Opening Night Gala honors … Read more
MTT Delivers Rousing SFS Performance of Mahler’s Ninth Before Hiatus
Michael Tilson Thomas announced some time ago that he is withdrawing from all engagements beginning June 17 until September 3 in order to undergo a … Read more
Esa-Pekka Salonen Takes SFS Beyond Boundaries
The much-anticipated creative partnership of SFS Music Director Designate Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony got underway last evening as “boundary-defying” Salonen stormed the … Read more
SFS Focuses on Berg, With a Recording in The Works
Alban Berg has been intriguing us ever since we first attended a performance of his opera, “Lulu” some years ago As a member of the … Read more
SFS Superstar, Mark Inouye, Plays for Keeps
San Francisco Symphony’s principal trumpet player, Mark Inouye, is not a regular rider of our Bay Area ferries, although he has been invited to play … Read more