The San Francisco Symphony's 2018-19 season starts next week, marking the next-to-last year of Michael Tilson Thomas' historical term as Music Director. The Orchestra's 107th season is bringing many of MTT's favorite composers back to Davies Symphony Hall, stressing his quest for innovative and relevant programming, and reminding fans of his commitment to American music and performers. His typically jam-packed 24th season is comprised of 16 weeks of programs in San Francisco and the US, including an eight-city national tour, his final American victory lap as SFS Music Director.
Signature semi-staged concert events are an exciting returning feature, and immersive "mini-festivals" are back, too, with a two-week Stravinsky Festival Sept. 21-23, thematically linked by the three immortal ballets written for Diaghilev's legendary Ballets Russes. "The Firebird," "Petrushka," and the revolutionary "Le Sacre du printemps" ("The Rite of Spring") will turn the heat up at DSH, with "The Firebird" and the melodrama for voices, narrator, and orchestra "Persephone," with tenor Nicholas Phan, the Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Girls Chorus, and SFS Chorus (Ragnar Bohlin, Director), starting the Festival fortnight.
Earlier in the month, Sept. 13-16, knock-out piano superstar and bold fashionista Yuja Wang teams with MTT and the Orchestra in concerts featuring "Composers Who Paint with Music." Ravel's snappy jazz-inflected Piano Concerto in D Major for the Left Hand is high on Ms. Wang's list of accomplishments. Aaron Copland's beloved ballet score "Appalachian Spring" is on the bill, and it will be performed complete. Intriguingly, lighting designer Luke Kritzeck and video designer Clyde Scott will also be on hand for the concert, planned as a Global Climate Action Summit affiliate event.
A presentation of Niccolo Castiglioni's "Inverno, in-ver" adds to global conversation on the environment, enhanced by projections from a collection of images that follow the line of climate change from earth's coal mines to its threatened glaciers. Conceived and directed by MTT with his New World Symphony in Florida, the daring, far-out-of-town tryout was a success. SFS audiences will also reap the benefits with another chance to enjoy Fearless Leader's groundbreaking approach to programming.
2018-19 isn't all about MTT. The biggest celebrations are undoubtedly in the works for his final season. For now, we are gearing up for the holidays and the end of 2018. DSH will stay bright and inviting October through December, with guest conductors and artists helping to pay the light bill.
Manfred Honeck and cellist Truls Mork showcase Prokofiev and Dvorak in October, and Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, SFS favorite and my vote for most exciting possible future replacement for MTT, returns for another "Composers Who Paint with Music" concert. Ravel and Debussy are right up his alley. He is joined by piano virtuoso Javier Perianes for a thrilling Bartok Concerto. October ends with Christian Macelaru conducting fast-rising violin star Ray Chen in a program featuring the fiery music of Lalo and the rich Viennese cream of R. Strauss' Suite from "Der Rosenkavalier."
November starts with another guest conductor, Jakob Hrusa, and violinist Karen Gomyo presenting works by 20th-century masters Bartok and Shostakovich. The month ends with a "Celebrating MTT" concert featuring his "From the Diary of Anne Frank" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, "Eroica."
MTT is back on the podium Nov. 23 & 25 for performances of Beethoven's Ninth, the ultimate ode to freedom. The concerts are in honor of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The usual rush of holiday events at DSH (don't forget "Film with Live Orchestra" shows) will be highlighted in December by British conductor, music director, author and music scholar Jane Glover leading the annual traditional Handel's "Messiah."
Opening week of the season continues with two "All San Francisco Concerts" on Sept. 6 & 8, with cellist Oliver Herbert joining MTT and the SFS for a glittering celebration featuring music of Liszt, Tchaikovsky and, who else?, George Gershwin.
Single tickets have been on sale since earlier in the summer, but packages are still available, and subscriptions always guarantee prime seating. We will preview more of the season later this year.
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