Mondays at 10:00 pm
Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony onstage at Davies Symphony Hall (Photo: Stefan Cohen)
Weekly concerts recorded live at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco
Since its beginning in 1911, the San Francisco Symphony has been known for innovative programs that offer a spectrum of traditional repertory and new music. Today, the orchestra’s artistic vitality, recordings, and groundbreaking multimedia educational projects carry its impact throughout American musical life. Under Michael Tilson Thomas, music director from 1995 to 2020, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, music director since 2020, the orchestra has been praised for its musicianship, for innovative programming, for bringing the works of American composers to the fore, and for bringing new audiences into Davies Symphony Hall.
The San Francisco Symphony program is part of the WFMT Orchestra Series.
There are no upcoming broadcasts at the moment.
Isabel Leonard sings Mozart
May 23, 2019
Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard performs Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate, a 1773 motet under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas. MTT also conducts the San Francisco Symphony in performances of Mozart’s Six German Dances and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4.
An American in Paris; Hymns for Organ
May 16, 2019
A diverse program ranging from Gershwin’s An American in Paris to hymns like Charles Converse’s “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
Music of a Modern Age
May 9, 2019
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts a program of mid-20th century music from Ives, Harrison, and Antheil. Also featured is Tilson Thomas’ own composition — the setting of Carl Sandburg’s poem Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind. The program features the San Francisco Symphony and many guest performers, including Measha Brueggergosman, Mikaela Bennett, Kara Dugan, and Peter Dugan.
Tubist Jeffrey Anderson
May 2, 2019
Maestro Tilson Thomas conducts the SF Symphony and principal tuba Jeffrey Anderson in a performance of Robin Holloway‘s Europa and the Bull. Tilson Thomas also leads performances of works by Cage and Bartók.
Cellist Gautier Capuçon plays Shostakovich
April 25, 2019
Gautier Capuçon joins Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony to perform Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1. Also featured in this program are works by Gnesin and Tchaikovsky.
Violinist Leila Josefowicz plays John Adams
April 18, 2019
Music of Prokofiev and John Adams are on this week’s program, which features violinist Leila Josefowicz and the Michael Tilson Thomas-led San Francisco Symphony.
Pianist Yuja Wang plays Chopin
April 11, 2019
Michael Tilson Thomas leads the SF Symphony in a mixed program featuring one of his own compositions, a Chopin piano concerto with soloist Yuja Wang, and a Bruckner symphony.
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Haydn, Sibelius, and Beethoven
April 4, 2019
Michael Tilson Thomas, the music director of the San Francisco Symphony since 1995, leads a program of Haydn, Sibelius, and Beethoven in this live performance from September 2016.
Violinist Christian Tetzlaff Plays Ligeti
June 28, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts a program featuring violinist Christian Tetzlaff.
SF Symphony and Gil Shaham play Stravinsky
June 21, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts an all-Stravinsky program featuring violinist Gil Shaham.
Michael Tilson Thomas and Yefim Bronfman
June 14, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts a program featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman.
SFS and Violinist Julia Fischer
June 7, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the San Francisco Symphony and Julia Fischer, violin.
Michael Tilson Thomas and Alexander Barantschik
May 30, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas leads a program featuring violinist Alexander Barantschik.
Michael Tilson Thomas and Emanuel Ax
May 24, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts a program feature Beethoven’sPiano Concerto No. 3 with Emanuel Ax as the soloist. Plus symphonic encores by Mahler, Copland, debussy, delius,Sibelius, Rachmaninoff, and delibes.
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Mahler’s 9th Symphony
May 17, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 9.
Michael Tilson Thomas and Alexander Barantschik
May 10, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conductor a program featuring violinist Alexander Barantschik and violist Jonathan Vinocour.
Bach, Brant, Tchaikovsky, & Thomas
May 3, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts a diverse program of music that includes one of his original compositions, Street Songs. Organist Cameron Carpenter is a featured soloist.
Mahler’s “Song of the Night”
April 26, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 7, Song of the Night.
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Debussy, Adams, and Rimsky-Korsakov
April 19, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas, conducts a program of diverse music featuring Alexander Barantschik as violin soloist.
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Michael Tilson Thomas
April 12, 2018
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the world premiere of a work he composed himself, Urban Legend, as well as works by Bartók and Strauss, featuring Steven Braunstein, contrabassoon, and Alexander Barantschik, violin.
