Remembering Michael Tilson Thomas

Rik Malone and MTT

The Classical California family was sorry to hear about the passing of Michael Tilson Thomas. From his hometown roots in Los Angeles, trailblazing start at USC, and legendary tenure with the San Francisco Symphony, he's made an indelible impact on our communities and the classical music world at large. He will be deeply missed. The outpouring of support has been tremendous. Below are some remembrances from our hosts and listeners. Please feel free to share your tributes below as well.

Decades before Rik Malone started hosting the San Francisco Symphony broadcasts, I did a 10 year stint at Davies Symphony Hall and got to see the transition from Herbert Blomstedt to Michael Tilson Thomas. The conventional wisdom was that HB whipped the Orchestra into shape and MTT then took them to the stratosphere and beyond. The very first concert he conducted as music director designate is something I’ll never forget. It was Sheherazade followed after intermission by the Rite of Spring . Yeah, goosebumps. The ovation he received as he walked out on stage with everybody knowing that the future of San Francisco Symphony was going to be in his hands for at least a while, we didn’t know then that it would be 25 years, but we knew it was gonna be something special. Anyway the ovation was unforgettable. And the performance, same. He was not the easiest interview, not always terribly forthcoming, but he was a charmer on stage. The audience loved him to the max and the musicians adored him, and that’s really all that matters.

-Dianne Nicolini

Brian Lauritzen and MTT on stage

@simonlaphil

In what instantly became one of my favorite moments ever on stage at Walt Disney Concert Hall…I was hosting a post-concert Q&A with Michael Tilson Thomas. We were talking about the concert he had just conducted: Tchaik 6 and his own composition “Four Playthings of the Wind.” It was a thoughtful, mesmerizing conversation—as they always were with MTT—and as we were nearing the end, MTT’s husband, Joshua Robison, sent their beloved dog Maydela on stage to help us wrap it up. Cuteness overload, for sure! And I’ll never forget the look of absolute love and adoration I saw flash through MTT’s eyes in that beautiful moment.

-Brian Lauritzen

Keeping Score, Mahler, Copeland - for me, Michael Tilson Thomas opened up new ways of listening to and understanding composers and their music. And I still cannot get enough of listening to his playing the piano and conducting the SF Symphony in Copeland's "Rodeo" and Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue"; it's just so darned much FUN to listen to. While I am wondering how this void will be filled, I am so happy he's no longer in pain. Rest in peace M.T.T.

-Pat in Castro Valley

He was such an amazing conductor and pedagogue. He was so passionate about communicating connections between music and history, as evidenced by his "Keeping Score" series (I particularly like the Shostakovich edition). I remember fondly getting to see him conduct Gustav Mahler's 8th Symphony and the Adagio from the 10th. I was also introduced to a favorite piece of mine, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 1st Symphony, through attending an open rehearsal with MTT and the SFS. Rest in peace, Maestro. Thanks for the great musical memories!

-Michael from Missoula, MT

Sadly, I never got the opportunity to hear/watch MTT in person at a live concert, but I always looked forward to hearing concert broadcasts and recordings of his over the air. He had such a huge impact on the American classical music scene, and will be missed dearly. Aloha.

-Miriam in Honolulu

You can find more memories, photos, and videos celebrating the life and legacy of MTT on social media.