South Florida Classical Review

Michael Tilson Thomas has bowed out of the second week of his upcoming concerts with the New World Symphony (April 5 and 6).  The artistic director laureate has been battling brain cancer since 2021. 

He will be replaced by former NWS principal guest conductor Alasdair Neale, who will lead the program of Rossini’s La gazza ladra Overture, Haydn’s Symphony No. 103 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”). The concerts are being billed as a tribute to Tilson Thomas and his contribution as co-founder and artistic director of the organization for over three decades.

Tilson Thomas will still conduct the New World Symphony, as scheduled, March 29 and 30 at New World Center with a program of  Schumann’s Piano Concerto with Yefim Bronfman and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. (Neale will lead Mozart’s Overture to Don Giovanni to open the program.) 

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was also the work that closed the New World Symphony’s  debut concert in February, 1988. As Tilson Thomas’ farewell, it will bring his history with the ensemble full circle.

Last month, Tilson Thomas announced a public farewell in a statement released by his publicist. The text is below.

 

Dear Friends,

Three years ago I wrote to tell you that I’m battling Glioblastoma. The three and a half years since the initial diagnosis have been a special time in my life, filled with friends, family, and music. They have also been challenging as I had to undergo a second operation and manage complications from the treatments that have held the tumor at bay.

My doctors have informed me that the tumor has returned. We continue to work with the superb group at the UCSF Brain Tumor Center. There are treatment options, but the odds are uncertain.

Joshua and I are in San Francisco with the pups, and we take occasional jaunts to Bolinas. Our home is filled with memories of a full life. There’s a keyboard on each floor and occasionally a piece by CPE Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Schumann, a Broadway melody, or one of my own tunes seem to emerge. Sometimes I can share these moments. Other times I find my own personal peace and solace.

Now is the time to wind down my public appearances. During the past year I had the opportunity to come full circle with musicians and orchestras I hold most dear. My work with the London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic was very special. In March I have concerts planned with the New World Symphony and, on April 26, the San Francisco Symphony is celebrating my 80th birthday. At that point we all get to say the old show business expression, “It’s a wrap.’

A “coda” is a musical element at the end of a composition that brings the whole piece to a conclusion. A coda can vary greatly in length. My life’s coda is generous and rich.

Life is precious.

Michael Tilson Thomas

 

Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Schumann’s Piano Concerto with Yefim Bronfman and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, 8 p.m. March 29 and 2 p.m. March 30 at the New World Center in Miami Beach. nws.edu

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4 Responses to “Tilson Thomas bows out of second NWS week; will still lead final local concerts in March”

1. Posted Mar 19, 2025 at 11:09 pm by Nicole Johnson

   Thank you MTT for bringing us beautiful music and for American Mavericks which brought us from Modesto 2 hours away.

   Avant-gard jazz fans, we realized how good the SF symphony was becoming under MTT and Solonens direction. Thank you for all this.

2. Posted Mar 20, 2025 at 5:42 am by William M Carroll

   A courageous man and role model. God bless you. Always

3. Posted Mar 20, 2025 at 8:04 pm by Dorothy Gietzen

   Thanks for many years of great music in San Francisco. We have many many happy memories!!

4. Posted Mar 22, 2025 at 10:08 am by Robert H Gandler

   As a survivor of an acoustic neuroma for more than thirteen years my thoughts and prayers are with you! I hope that you have many more healthy cancer-free years ahead of you!

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