1944
- Born December 21, Los Angeles, California.
- Parents: Theodor and Roberta Thomas
- Grandparents: Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky, founding members and stars of the Yiddish Theater in New York
1954
- Student, University of Southern California Preparatory School
- Piano student of Dorothy Bishop
1962
- Enrolled in the University of Southern California with advanced standing
- Piano studies with John Crown
- Conducting and composition studies with Ingolf Dahl
1963
- Conducted the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra in Los Angeles for the first time, continuing with such concerts until 1967
- Pianist/Conductor for “Monday Evening Concerts,” performing premieres of works by Pierre Boulez, Aaron Copland, Ingolf Dahl, William Kraft, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Igor Stravinsky et al, from 1963 to 1968. During this same period he was pianist/conductor with Gregor Piatigorsky and Jascha Heifetz
1966
- Student of Friedelind Wagner
- Assistant Conductor and Musical Assistant at the Bayreuth Festival
1967
- Graduated from USC, summa cum laude, with a Master’s degree in music
- Chief Conductor, Ojai Festival
- Under Igor Stravinsky’s supervision made the premiere recording of the four hand version of Le Sacre du Printemps with Ralph Grierson for Angel/EMI
1968
- Conducting Fellow, Berkshire Music Center, Tanglewood; winner of the Koussevitzky Prize.
- Co-Music Director, Ojai Festival
1969
- Appointed Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- Co-Music Director, Ojai Festival
- On October 22, made his New York debut, unscheduled, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra replacing William Steinberg in mid-concert at Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center. Subsequent to that last-minute debut, conducted 37 concerts with the Boston Symphony in the 1969-70 season
1970
- London debut with the London Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Mostly Mozart, Ravinia, Tanglewood
- Tour: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Europe
Recordings for DGG:
- Charles Ives: Three Places in New England
- Carl Ruggles: Sun-Treader (Boston Symphony Orchestra) (GRAMMY nominations – Album of the Year, Classical and Best Classical Performance, Orchestra)
- Debussy: Chamber Music
- Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.1 (Winter Dreams)
1971
- Appointed Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra ( -1979)
- Appointed Music Director, New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts ( -1977)
- Associate Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra ( -1972)
- Named High Fidelity/Musical America’s “Musician of the Year”
- Japanese Debut – Japan Philharmonic
Recordings for DGG:
- Debussy: Images, Prélude a l’Après-midi d’un Faune • Boston Symphony Orchestra
- William Shuman: Violin Concerto (P. Zukofsky) and Walter Piston: Symphony No. 2 • Boston Symphony Orchestra
1972
- Appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (-1974)
- Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (-1979)
- Guest engagements: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic
- Summer Festivals: BBC Promenade Concerts, Robin Hood Dell, Tanglewood
Recordings for DGG:
- Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps, King of the Stars • Boston Symphony Orchestra (GRAMMY Nominations – Best Performance of a Choral Work, and Best Classical Performance, Orchestra)
Television:
- “Patterns of Three” (October 1), CBS Young People’s Concerts
1973
- Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (-1979)
- Principal Guest Conductor, Boston Symphony Orchestra (-1974)
- Music Director, Ojai Festival
- Signed exclusive recording contract with CBS Masterworks
- Guest engagements: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, RAI Rome
- Summer Festivals: Edinburgh, Helsinki, New York Parks, Tanglewood
Recordings for Angel/EMI:
- Reich – Four Organs
- Cage – Three Dances for Two Prepared Pianos
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Silverman, Stanley – Elephant Steps
Television:
CBS Young People’s Concerts
- “The Virtuoso Orchestra” (March 11)
- “Piano vs. Orchestra” (October 28)
- “I Love Tchaikowsky” (July 1)
1974
- Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra ( -1979)
- Principal Guest Conductor, Boston Symphony Orchestra ( -1974)
- Music Director, Ojai Festival
- Guest engagements: Berlin Radio Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, RAI Milan, RAI Rome, San Francisco Symphony
- Summer Festivals: Hollywood Bowl, Lewiston Artpark, Tanglewood
- Conducted World Youth Orchestra, Vienna, Montreal
Recording for CBS Masterworks:
- Orff: Carmina Burana • Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus (Blegen, Riegel, Binder)
(GRAMMY Award – Best Performance of a Choral Work; GRAMMY Nomination – Album of the Year) - McLaughlin: Apocalypse • London Symphony Orchestra, Mahavishnu Orchestra
Television:
CBS Young People’s Concerts
- “What Makes A Gershwin Tune a Gershwin Tune?” (September 29)
1975
- Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra ( -1979)
- Music Director, Ojai Festival
- Tour: Israel Philharmonic: Israel and England
- Guest engagements: Berlin Radio Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, opera debut conducting Gounod’s Faust in Cincinnati
- Summer Festivals: Hollywood Bowl, Robin Hood Dell, Tanglewood
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Beethoven: Late Choral Music • London Symphony Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers
- Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue (Gershwin Piano), American in Paris (New York Philharmonic) (GRAMMY Nominations – Best Orchestral Performance, Album of the Year)
Television:
CBS Young People’s Concerts
- “What is Noise? What is Music?” (May 10)
1976
- Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra ( -1979)
- Tour: Buffalo Philharmonic: United States
- Guest engagements: Berlin Radio Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Dvořák: American Flag, American Suite • Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral Chorus
- Gershwin: Broadway Overtures (Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Ruggles: Complete Works • Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and various soloists (GRAMMY Nomination – Album of the Year, Stereo Review Award – Album of the Year)
Television:
CBS Young People’s Concerts
- “Carnival of the Animals” with Chuck Jones
- “Music for Young Performers” (February 8)
- “Variations on a Variation” (May 8)
- “Fanfares and Fugues” (October 10)
1977
- Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (-1979)
- Music Director, Ojai Festival
- Guest engagements: Houston Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Blossom, Hollywood Bowl, Meadow Brook, Robin Hood Dell
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 3, Op. 55 • Los Angeles Philharmonic
Television:
CBS Young People’s Concerts (EMMY Nomination)
- “Making Pictures with Music” (February 10)
1978
- Tour: Philharmonia Orchestra: Flanders Festival
- Guest engagements: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Hollywood Bowl, Meadow Brook, Robin Hood Dell, San Francisco
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Respighi: Pines of Rome, Roman Festivals (GRAMMY Nomination – Best Orchestral Recording)
Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije Suite, Love for Three Oranges Suite • Los Angeles Philharmonic (GRAMMY Nomination – Best Orchestral Recording)
1979
- Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (-1979)
- Guest engagements: Cleveland Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Radio Orchestra of Amsterdam, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Conducts the American premiere of the complete three-act version of Alban Berg’s Lulu at Santa Fe Opera
- Summer Festivals: BBC Promenade Concerts, Hollywood Bowl, Meadow Brook
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 • English Chamber Orchestra
- Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony • London Symphony Orchestra
Television:
- “Carl Ruggles: American Mystic” for Camera 3
“Michael Tilson Thomas: American Conductor” for French Television
1980
- Guest engagements: Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Amsterdam Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, English Chamber Orchestra, Florence: Teatro Communale, Hague Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Hollywood Bowl, Orange Festival, Robin Hood Dell, Saratoga
- Opera: Wagner, The Flying Dutchman, Orange Festival, France
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 4, Symphony No. 5 • English Chamber Orchestra)
- Beethoven: Ah, Perfido! (Eva Marton) • English Chamber Orchestra)
- Beethoven: Egmont Overture • English Chamber Orchestra)
- Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 2, Suite No. 4
- Stravinsky: Petrouchka (1947) • Philharmonia Orchestra
Television:
- “Kennedy Center Honors” (CBS-TV)
- “Debut” (PBS-TV)
1981
- Principal Guest Conductor, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (-1985)
- Tour: Los Angeles Philharmonic East coast of the United States
- Re-signs exclusive recording contract with CBS Masterworks
- Guest engagements: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Vienna Symphony
- Summer Festivals: Amsterdam, Hollywood Bowl, Meadow Brook, Monte Carlo, Mostly Mozart, Pittsburgh
Opera: Janáček, The Cunning Little Vixen, New York City Opera
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Ives: Symphony No. 2 • Concertgebouworkest
Gershwin: Orchestra Works • Philharmonia Orchestra
Recordings for Unicorn Records:
- Oliver Knussen: Symphony No. 3 • Philharmonia Orchestra
Simon Bainbridge: Viola Concerto (Walter Trampler) • London Sinfonietta
1982
- Principal Guest Conductor, Los Angeles Philharmonic (-1985)
- Guest engagements: Berlin Philharmonic, Concertgebouworkest, English Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Welsh National Opera Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Holland Festival (Stravinsky Centennial), Hollywood Bowl (Stravinsky Centennial), Proms Concerts (BBC Symphony, Philharmonia), Ravinia, Robin Hood Dell
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Gershwin Live! with Sarah Vaughan (GRAMMY Award – Best Jazz Vocal Performance)
- Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (MTT, Piano) (GRAMMY Nomination – Best Orchestral Performance)
- Prokofiev: Opus 42 • Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Ives: Symphony No. 3, Orchestral Set No. 2 • Concertgebouworkest
- Debussy: La Mer, Nocturnes
- Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto • Philharmonia Orchestra, Cho Liang Lin
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 1, Symphony No. 2, Symphony No. 7 • English Chamber Orchestra
Television:
- “America Salutes Stravinsky” • National Symphony Orchestra
1983
- Principal Guest Conductor, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Artistic Director Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute (-1985)
- Guest engagements: American Composers Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, English Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Danish Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Vienna Symphony
- Summer Festivals: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute, Ravinia
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Gershwin: Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano, Walking the Dog (MTT, Piano); Unpublished Piano Works (MTT, Piano) • Los Angeles Philharmonic (GRAMMY Nominations – Album of the Year, Best Classical Performance by Instrumental Soloist)
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 • English Chamber Orchestra
Television:
- “Spring in Vienna” • Vienna Symphony, Kathleen Battle
1984
- Principal Guest Conductor, Los Angeles Philharmonic: Artistic Director Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute (-1985)
- Guest engagements: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, English Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Vienna Symphony
- Summer Festivals: Hollywood Bowl, Mostly Mozart, Ravinia, Robin Hood Dell, Tanglewood
- Opera: Beethoven, Fidelio, Houston Grand Opera
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Gershwin: Solo Piano Works
- Bernstein: Songs from West Side Story, On The Town, Mass (Hofmann, Sasson)
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 • English Chamber Orchestra
Recording for Nonesuch Records:
- Reich: The Desert Music
1985
- Guest Engagements: Bayerische Rundfunk, Berlin Philharmonic, Brooklyn Academy Next Wave Festival, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony
Summer Festivals: Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia, Robin Hood Dell, Tanglewood - Tour: Los Angeles Philharmonic: East Coast of the United States
- Appointed Artistic Advisor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Series at Great Woods and Music Director of the Great Woods Institute
- Opera: La Bohème, Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Brahms/Schoenberg: Piano Quartet; Bach/Schoenberg: Choral Preludes • Bayerische Rundfunk
- Copland: Choral Works • Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Symphony (GRAMMY Nomination – Best Performance of a Choral Work)
- Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker • Philharmonia Orchestra (Joint production with Caedmon/Arabesque Records)
Television:
- CBS Sunday Morning Feature
1986
- Guest Engagements: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Luke’s Orchestra
- Tours: Philharmonia Orchestra: Spain, London Symphony Orchestra, Shell Tour of England
- Summer Festivals: Cincinnati May Festival, Great Woods Performing Arts Center, Music Director (-1988), Ravinia Festival, Tanglewood
- Opera: Tosca, concert version at Great Woods; La Bohème, Chicago Lyric Opera
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Copland: Appalachian Spring, Billy The Kid, Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo • London Symphony Orchestra
- Adam: Giselle • London Symphony Orchestra
- Ives: Holidays Symphony, Unanswered Question, Central Park In The Dark • Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Contredanses • St. Luke’s Orchestra
Recordings for CBS/Sony:
- Tchaikowsky: Piano Concerto No. 1; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2; Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 • London Symphony Orchestra, Kazume Shimizu
Television:
- “Playing By Heart,” a television essay on Till Eulenspiegel for BBC TV • London Symphony Orchestra
1987
- Appointed Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (Commencing September 1988)
- Appointed Artistic Advisor of The New World Symphony
- Re-signs exclusive recording contract with CBS Masterworks
- Guest Engagements: Bayerische Rundfunk, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, (Rome, Milan, Frankfurt), Chicago Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Nationale de France, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Daytona Beach (LSO), Edinburgh (PSO), Great Woods (Music Director) (-1988), Meadowbrook (LSO), Proms (LSO), Ravinia (LSO), Tanglewood
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Gershwin, George & Ira: Of Thee I Sing & Let ‘Em Eat Cake • Orchestra of St Luke’s and Brooklyn Academy of Music
- Mahler: Symphony No. 3 and Rückert Lieder • London Symphony Orchestra, Janet Baker
- Kurt Weill: Die Sieben Todsünden, Kleine Dreigroschenmusik • London Symphony Orchestra, Julia Migenes
Television:
- “Celebrating Gershwin,” Co-production of BBC, PBS, ZDF, and RAI commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the death of George Gershwin. International cast, St. Luke’s Orchestra, LSO, and productions of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the BBC Television Center
1988
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Tours: Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Australia, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: East Coast of the United States and Carnegie Hall
- Guest Engagements: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Great Woods (Music Director) (-1988), New World Music Festival, California (NWS), BBC Proms (LSO), Salzburg (LSO), Tanglewood (BSO & TMC) – Leonard Bernstein’s 70th Birthday Celebration
Recordings for CBS Masterworks:
- Ravel: Ma Mère L’Oye, Pièce en Forme de Habanera, Boléro, Rapsodie Espagñole,
Pavane pour un Enfant Défunte, Shéhérazade, Ouverture de Féerie • London Symphony Orchestra - Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Till Eulenspiegel • London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Barantschik, Violin
- McLaughlin: Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, The Mediterranean • London Symphony Orchestra, John McLaughlin
- Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1, Piano Concerto No. 2 • London Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Feltsman
- Puccini: Tosca • Hungarian State Orchestra, Co-Production, Hungaroton (Marton, Carreras, Tajo, Pons)
Recording for Nonesuch:
- Reich: The Four Sections • London Symphony Orchestra
Television:
- BBC Proms – Mahler, Das Klagende Lied (M. Price, J. Van Ness, Jerusalem, Herford, London Symphony Orchestra)
BBC TV – “Journey Into Silence” an essay on the Sibelius Symphony No. 6 (London Symphony Orchestra, Broadcast April 15, 1989)
PBS TV – “Bernstein at 70” (Boston Symphony Orchestra, Barbara Hendricks, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Osborne)
Compositions:
- Grace (A Song for Leonard Bernstein), First Performance Tanglewood August 27 (Roberta Alexander, soprano; MTT, piano)
- Street Song (Empire Brass Quintet) First Performance Suntory Hall, Tokyo, September 17; Recorded August 30, 31 Symphony Hall, Boston, Telarc Records
1989
- Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1988 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Guest Engagements: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Tours: London Symphony Orchestra: United States, Japan, Canary Islands, New World Symphony: Paris (Opening of the L’Opera Bastille), South America
- Summer Festivals: Linz (LSO), Daytona, FL (LSO), Bruckner Festival Opening Concert (LSO), Proms (LSO), San Sebastien (LSO), Santander (LSO), Vienna Festival (LSO), Wolf Trap (NWS)
- Opera: Rimsky-Korsakov – Mlada (LSO)
- Piano Recitals: Dallas, College Station, Houston, Clearwater, Atlanta
- Keynote address, American Symphony Orchestra League Conference, San Francisco, June 22
Recordings for Sony Classical:
- Brahms: Serenade No. 1, Serenade No. 2, Academic Festival Overture, Tragic Overture, Haydn Variations, Hungarian Dances 1, 3, 10, 17-21 • London Symphony Orchestra
- Ives: Symphony No. 1, Symphony No. 4 • Chicago Symphony Orchestra (GRAMMY Nominations – Best Classical Album and Best Orchestral Performance, Diapason D’Or)
Television: BBC TV
- “The Birth of the Firebird, Rimsky-Korsakov and St. Petersburg” • London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, (Broadcast: Great Britain, November 25)
- London Weekend Television: The South Bank Show – “From the New World” (Broadcast: Great Britain, January 29)
- WNET/PBS: Great Performances – “Michael Tilson Thomas Conducts Miami’s New World Symphony” (Broadcast: United States, December 29)
1990
- Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1988- )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987- )
- Guest Engagement: San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Tours: London Symphony Orchestra: Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, England, France, New World Symphony: UNICEF tour, Philadelphia, Houston, Chicago, New York
- Summer Festivals: Pacific Music Festival (Co-Artistic Director with Leonard Bernstein) (LSO, PMFO), Salzburg (COE), Proms (LSO)
Recordings for Sony Classical:
- Tchaikowsky: Swan Lake (Complete Ballet) • London Symphony Orchestra
- Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Don Juan • London Symphony Orchestra
- Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps, Symphonies of Wind Instruments • London Symphony Orchestra
- Janáček: Glagolitic Mass (Benackova, Palmer, Lakes, Kotscherga), Sinfonietta • London Symphony Orchestra
Television: NHK TV
- Bernstein – Candide Overture, Strauss – Ein Heldenleben
London Symphony Orchestra
Composition:
- From The Diary of Anne Frank • New World Symphony, Audrey Hepburn
First Performance Philadelphia Academy of Music, March 19
1991
- Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1988 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Guest Engagements: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Berlin)
- Tours: London Symphony Orchestra: Israel, Salzburg (Whitsun), New World Symphony: United States, Japan
- Summer Festivals: Pacific Music Festival (Co-Artistic Director) (LSO, PMFO), Salzburg (Opening Performance – Mozart Requiem, Dresdener Staatskapelle, Leipzig Rundfunkchor, Hamburg Ballet, John Neumeier, Choreography), Proms (LSO)
- Festivals: Childhood (LSO), Takemitsu (LSO)
Recordings for Sony Classical:
- Debussy: La Boîte à Joujoux, Prélude a l’Après-midi d’un Faune, Jeux
- Debussy: Le Martyre de St. Sébastien (McNair, Murray, Stutzman, Caron) (GRAMMY Nominations – Best Performance of a Choral Work, Best Classical Album, Best Engineered Recording, Classical)
- Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1, Symphony No. 5
- Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements, Symphony In C, Symphony of Psalms • London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Television:
- BBC-TV: “The Maestro and the Mountebank” – Beethoven Symphony No. 3 (Eroica)
London Symphony Orchestra - NHK TV: Copland – Billy The Kid, Mahler – Adagietto from Symphony No. 5, Bernstein – Three Excerpts from Mass, Mozart – Requiem (Auger, Ludwig, Sperry, Hauptmann) Pacific Music Festival Orchestra
1992
- Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1988 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Guest Engagements: Orchestre National de France
- Tours: London Symphony Orchestra: United States, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, New World Symphony: Great Britain, United States
- Summer Festivals: Pacific Music Festival (Co-Artistic Director) (Principals Vienna Philharmonic, Bayerische Rundfunk, PMFO)
Recording for DGG:
- Bernstein: On The Town • London Symphony Orchestra, Daly, Von Stade, Lear, Laine, McLaughlin, Hampson, Garrison, Ollmann, Ramey, Comden and Green) (GRAMMY Nomination – Best Musical Show Album; Gramophone Award – Best Musical Theater, Best Video
Recording for NMC:
- Muldowney – Oboe Concerto • London Symphony Orchestra, Carter
Recording for Argo:
- Tangazo: Revueltas, Sensemaya; Catorla, Three Cuban Dances; Piazzola, Tangazo; Roldan, Four Movements from La Ribambaramba; Copland, Danzón Cubano; Chavez, Sinfonia India; Roldan, Ritmica No. 5 for Percussion; Ginastera, Dances from Estancia • New World Symphony (GRAMMY Nomination – Best Engineered Recording, Classical)
Recording for BMG:
- Concerto: Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 (De Larrocha), Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto (Isserlis), Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp (Galway, Robles), Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 (Douglas), Copland Clarinet Concerto (Stolzman) (GRAMMY Nomination – Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist with Orchestra), Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2 (Takezawa) • London Symphony Orchestra
Television:
- NHK TV: Beethoven – Leonore Overture No. 3, Bernstein – Chichester Psalms, Mahler – Symphony No. 1
(Pacific Music Festival Orchestra) - NHK TV: Faure – Pavane, Tilson Thomas – From The Diary of Anne Frank (Akiko Kuno, Narrator)
(Pacific Music Festival Orchestra) - NHK TV: Bernstein – Suite from A Quiet Place, Britten – A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Brahms – Symphony No. 2 Suntory Hall, Tokyo, (London Symphony Orchestra)
- BBC TV: “The Search for the Happy Ending” Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 (London Symphony Orchestra)
- Univision Broadcast: “In Harmony” (Gloria Estefan, Michael Tilson Thomas, The New World Symphony and the Miami Sound Machine) United States air date – May 10, 1992
- Initial TV: Concerto Series, Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 (De Larrocha), Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto (Isserlis), Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp (Galway, Robles), Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 (Douglas), Copland Clarinet Concerto (Stolzman), Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2 (Takezawa) London Symphony Orchestra
- Bernstein: On The Town (Daly, Von Stade, Lear, Laine, McLaughlin, Hampson, Garrison, Ollmann, Ramey, Comden and Green) (London Symphony Orchestra)
1993
- Appointed Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (Commencing 1995)
- Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1988 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Ditson Award from Columbia University for Contributions to American Music
- Guest Engagements: New England Conservatory (Boston, Carnegie Hall), San Francisco Symphony, Israel Philharmonic (Opening of Season), Houston Symphony
- Tours: London Symphony Orchestra: Austria, Germany, United States
- Summer Festivals: San Francisco Symphony Russian Festival, Pacific Music Festival (Co-Artistic Director) Proms (LSO)
Recording for Sony Classical:
- Strauss – Vier Letzte Lieder • Popp, London Symphony Orchestra
Recordings for DGG:
- Schumann – Piano Concerto, Grieg – Piano Concerto • Luisada, London Symphony Orchestra
- Bernstein – Suite from A Quiet Place, West Side Story Dances, Arias & Barcarolles • Von Stade, Hampson, London Symphony Orchestra
- Shostakovich – Cello Concertos No. 1 & 2 • Maisky, London Symphony Orchestra
Recording for BMG:
- Bartok – Violin Rhapsodies Nos. 1 & 2 • Takezawa, London Symphony Orchestra
Recording for EMI:
- Sibelius – Violin Concerto, Chausson – Poème • Salerno-Sonnenberg, London Symphony Orchestra
1994
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (Commencing 1995)
- Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1988 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Guest Engagements: Bayerische Staatsoper, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Tours: London Symphony Orchestra: Spain, Italy, UK, New World Symphony: Brazil, Argentina
- Summer Festivals: Ojai Festival (Music Director) (NWS), Pacific Music Festival, (Co-Artistic Director) (LSO, PMFO), Tokyo (PMFO), Proms (LSO), Ravello (LSO)
Recording for Argo:
- Dahl – Tower of St. Barbara, Saxophone Concerto (Harle), Hymn, Music for Brass Instruments (Biancalana, Diehl, Lockhart, Miller, Lawless, Diefes, New World Symphony)
Recording for EMI:
- Barber – Adagio for Strings, Knoxville, Summer of 1915 (Hendricks), Sure On This Shining Night (Hendricks, London Symphony Orchestra)
- Copland – Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson (Hendricks), Quiet City (Pendrill, Murphy, London Symphony Orchestra)
Television:
- VARA Broadcast from the Concertgebouw: Mahler – Symphony No. 9, Rotterdam Philharmonic
- BBC-TV: Gala Concert in Celebration of the London Symphony Orchestra’s 90th Birthday
- BBC-TV: A Hero’s Secret Life (Strauss – Ein Heldenleben), London Symphony Orchestra
Compositions:
- We Two Boys, based on a poem by Walt Whitman
Recorded by EMI January 25, 1994 (Thomas Hampson, baritone, and Craig Rutenberg, piano)
Publication:
- MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS Viva Voce – Faber & Faber Publisher. Released in England September 1994
1995
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (September 1995 – )
- Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1988 – August 1995)
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (September 1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Guest Engagement: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
- Tours: London Symphony Orchestra – Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kurashiki, Nagoya), Salzburg (Whitsun Festival), New World Symphony – New York (Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall), Monte Carlo, Israel
- Summer Festivals: Pacific Music Festival (Artistic Director) (PMFO), Hiroshima, Tokyo (PMFO), Vienna Klangbogen (LSO)
Recording for BMG:
- Prokofiev – Romeo & Juliet • San Francisco Symphony (GRAMMY Award for Best Orchestral Recording of the Year)
Recording for Collins Classic:
- Matthews – Quatrain, Memorial, Hidden Variables • London Symphony Orchestra
Television:
- NHK-TV/PBS Great Performances: Tilson Thomas – Shówa/Shoáh, Bernstein – Age of Anxiety, Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 • Pacific Music Festival Orchestra
- Israel Television: Bernstein – Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Mahler – Symphony No. 1 • New World Symphony, Mann Auditorium Tel Aviv
Composition:
- Shówa/Shoáh (First Performance August 6 Hiroshima, PMF Orchestra)
1996
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (September 1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (September 1995 – )
- Guest Engagement: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
- Honorary Doctor of Music, University of Miami
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony – United States (Lincoln, NE; St. Louis, MO; Chicago, IL; Ann Arbor, MI; Toledo, OH; Washington DC; Clearwater, FL; West Palm Beach, FL; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Miami, FL), San Francisco Symphony – Europe (NYC, London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna, Munich, Stuttgart)
- Summer Festival: Aspen Music Festival – Composer in Residence
- Awards: Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, France
Recordings for BMG:
- Villa-Lobos – “Alma Brasileira” – Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 (Fleming), Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7, Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9, Choros No. 10 (New World Symphony & BBC Singers)
- Copland – “The Modernist” – Concerto for Piano & Orchestra (Ohlsson), Orchestral Variations, Short Symphony, Symphonic Ode • San Francisco Symphony
- Stravinsky – Le Sacre du Printemps • San Francisco Symphony
- Stravinsky – “Stravinsky in America” – Agon, Ode, Scenes de Ballet, Circus Polka, Concertino for 12 Instruments, Variations: Aldous Huxley in Memoriam, Scherzo a la Russe, Canon, Star-Spangled Banner, Greeting Prelude • London Symphony Orchestra
- Mahler – Das Klagende Lied • San Francisco Symphony, Shaguch, DeYoung, Moser, Leiferkus
Composition:
- Street Song – Symphonic Brass Version
First performed Barbican LSO Brass
Revised Symphonic Brass Version first performed Aspen Music Festival August
1997
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony – Asia (Tokyo, Nagoya, Akita, Hong Kong), London Symphony Orchestra – Europe (Vienna, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Bonn)
- Summer Festival: Pacific Music Festival (Artistic Director) (PMFO)
Recordings for BMG:
- Berlioz – Symphonie fantastique, Excerpts from Lelio • San Francisco Symphony
- Gershwin – An American in Paris, Piano Concerto • San Francisco Symphony
- Mahler – Symphony No. 7 • London Symphony Orchestra
Television:
- BBC TV – Great Composers – “Mahler”
- BBC TV – Great Composers – “Beethoven”
- PBS/KQED – Musical Encounter – Chamber Music
- George Martin – “The Rhythm of Life”
1998
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Guest Conducting, Concertgebouworkest
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony – Spring Tour (Chicago, Washington DC, NY Carnegie Hall, Greenvale LI); Opening of Carnegie Hall Season (Greenvale LI, Washington DC, Ann Arbor, MI), New World Symphony – 10th Anniversary (NY Alice Tully, Warwick UK, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna)
- Summer Festival: Pacific Music Festival (Artistic Director) (PMFO), Aspen Summer Festival (AMFO)
Recordings for BMG:
- Gershwin – Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano, Porgy & Bess Selections • San Francisco Symphony, McDonald, Stokes Mitchell
- Stravinsky – Firebird, Persephone • Cosserat, Narr., Neill, Tenor, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, San Francisco Girls Chorus, Ragazzi – The Peninsula Boys Chorus
Television:
- PBS – American Masters – Leonard Bernstein
- PBS – Lehrer News Hour – Feature
- PBS – Great Performances – Opening of Carnegie Hall – George Gershwin 100th birthday • San Francisco Symphony, von Stade, McDonald, Stokes Mitchell
Co-Production BBC TV/NHK - PBS – Beethoven Alive! – New World Symphony
- Visa Commercial – San Francisco Symphony
Compositions:
- Agnegram – First Performance: May 14, San Francisco Symphony
1999
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, European Tour: Dublin, London, Madrid, Murcia, Valencia, Barcelona, Toulouse, Paris, Amsterdam, Hannover, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Brussels, Vienna.
London Symphony Orchestra, Spring Tour: Ljubljana, Linz, Vienna, Bergenz. London Symphony Orchestra, Fall Tour: Freiberg, Dusseldorf, Paris, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna. - Summer Festival: Pacific Music Festival (Artistic Director) (PMFO)
Recordings for BMG/Classics:
- Copland – The Populist • Suite from Billy the Kid, Appalachian Spring, Fanfare for the Common Man, Suite from Our Town, Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo • San Francisco Symphony
- Ives – An American Journey • From the Steeples and the Mountains, The Things Our Fathers Loved, The Pond, Memories: A. Very Pleasant, B. Rather Sad, “The Housatonic at Stockbridge” from Three Places in New England, Charlie Rutlage, The Circus Band, “Putnam’s Camp” from Three Places in New England, Three Places in New England, In Flanders Fields (arr. David Del Tredici), They Are There!, Tom Sails Away, Fugue from Symphony No. 4, Psalm 100, Serenity, General William Booth Enters Into Heaven, The Unanswered Question (Thomas Hampson, baritone. Michael Tilson Thomas, piano. San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, San Francisco Girls Chorus)
Television:
- NHK-TV from Sapporo: “Bernstein, Symphony No. 2 – Age of Anxiety”, Mahler, Symphony No. 1, Takemitsu, Ceremonial
Compositions:
- “Sentimental Again” and “New Year’s Song” (orchestral versions). Audra McDonald, soprano, New World Symphony, May 2
- Whitman Songs (orchestral version) – First Performance: Thomas Hampson, baritone, San Francisco Symphony, September 30, October 1, 2, and 3
2000
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Guest Engagements: Concertgebouworkest, Russian National Orchestra
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, U.S. Tour: Carnegie Hall, Newark, Washington, DC, Boston, Hartford, Chicago, Champaign-Urbana, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Palm Desert, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Chico
San Francisco Symphony, European Tour: London, Baden-Baden, Lucerne, Turin, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hannover, Braunschweig, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Frankfurt
London Symphony Orchestra Tour: Athens - Summer Festival: Pacific Music Festival (Final Season as Artistic Director)
Recording for RCA/Red Seal:
- Steve Mackey – Eating Greens, Tuck & Roll, Lost and Found • New World Symphony
Television:
- LSO Productions – Britten, Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra; Ravel, Bolero.
Compositions:
- Dickinson Songs (Piano/Vocal) – First Performance: Renée Fleming, soprano, Alice Tully Hall – February 20, 2000
Special Projects:
- American Mavericks Festival
2001
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Guest Engagements: Cleveland Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic.
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony – U.S. (Carnegie Hall, Greenvale, Washington, DC); London Symphony Orchestra (Hannover, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Brussels, Friedrichshaffen, Zurich, Stuttgart)
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Mahler – Symphony No. 1, Mahler – Kindertotenlieder (DeYoung), Mahler – Symphony No. 6 (San Francisco Symphony)
Compositions:
- Dickinson Songs (Orchestral Version) – First Performance: Renée Fleming, soprano
San Francisco Symphony - “Chez Panisse” – A Song for Alice – First Performance: Berkeley, August 2002
2002
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Guest Engagements: NDR Hamburg, Concertgebouworkest
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, Spring Tour: Carnegie Hall, Ann Arbor; San Francisco Symphony, Fall Tour: Carnegie Hall, Greenvale, Washington, DC. London Symphony Orchestra: Berlin, Frankfurt, Baden-Baden.
Recording for SFS Media:
- Mahler – Symphony No. 3 • DeYoung, SFS Chorus, Boys Chorus, San Francisco Symphony
Recording for DGG:
- Costello – Il Sogno • London Symphony Orchestra
Television:
- Keeping Score: The Making of a Performance. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, San Francisco Symphony. SFS Media, InCA Productions – David Kennard, Joan Saffa, Gary Halverson, Directors Aired on PBS Great Performances, June 16, 2004.
Compositions:
- Urban Legend – First Performance: Steve Braunstein, contrabassoon, San Francisco Symphony, September 2002
2003
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Guest Engagement: Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony European Tour: Dublin, London, Brighton, Brussels, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Vienna, Prague, Paris
Recording for SFS Media:
- Mahler Symphony No. 4 • Claycomb, San Francisco Symphony
Compositions:
- Island Music – First Performance: Percussive Arts Society Annual Conference (Zeltsman, Van Geem, Damoulakis, Del Campo, Orfaly, Settle)
2004
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Carnegie Hall Perspectives Artist
- Guest Engagement: Vienna Philharmonic (Vienna, Copenhagen, Hamburg)
- Tours: New World Symphony, Rome; San Francisco Symphony, Spring Tour: Kansas City, Champaign-Urbana, Cleveland, Boston, New York (Carnegie Hall), Philadelphia, Newark; San Francisco Symphony, Fall
- Tour: Madrid, Pamplona, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Torino, Athens
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Mahler – Symphony No. 2 (Bayrakdarian, Hunt Lieberson, San Francisco Symphony & Chorus)
- Mahler – Symphony No. 9 (San Francisco Symphony)
Television:
- Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, Erioca. San Francisco Symphony. SFS Media, InCA Productions – David Kennard, Joan Saffa, Gary Halverson, Directors. Aired on PBS in 2006
- Stravinsky, Sacre du Printemps. San Francisco Symphony. SFS Media, InCA Productions – David Kennard, Joan Saffa, Gary Halverson, Directors. Aired on PBS in 2006
- Copland and the American Sound. San Francisco Symphony. SFS Media, InCA Productions – David Kennard, Joan Saffa, Gary Halverson, Directors. Aired on PBS in 2006
2005
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Carnegie Hall Perspectives Artist
- Guest Engagement: Berlin Philharmonic
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, California Tour: Costa Mesa, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Palm Desert, San Diego; San Francisco Symphony, New York Tour: New York, Purchase, Hartford; London Symphony Orchestra Tour: Köln, Essen, Munich
- Summer Festivals: Schleswig-Holstein Festival Opening Concert, NDR Orchestra; Verbier Festival Opening Concert, Verbier Festival Orchestra
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Mahler – Symphony No. 7 • San Francisco Symphony
- Mahler – Symphony No. 5 • San Francisco Symphony
Recording for Sony/BMG:
- Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto • Joshua Bell
- Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake, Op. 20: No. 20c, Act 3, Danse russe • Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
- Tchaikovsky, Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op. 42: No. 1, Méditation • Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Special Projects:
- The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (Blazer, Hensley, Brancoveanu, Widmann-Levy; P. Birch, director) Carnegie Hall, New York; Davies Hall, San Francisco
Compositions:
- Tea With Maggie – First Performance: Carnegie Hall
- Rilke Songs – First Performance: Carnegie Hall (Joshua Hopkins)
- Notturno – First Performance: Carnegie Hall (Paula Robison)
2006
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Guest Engagements: Munich Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, Asian Tour: Hong Kong, Shanghai; San Francisco Symphony, Spring United States Tour: New York, Newark, Washington D.C.; San Francisco Symphony, Fall European Tour: Luxembourg, Lucerne
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Mahler – Adagio from Symphony No. 10 • San Francisco Symphony
2007
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Summer Festivals: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, Spring United States & European Tour: New York, Vienna Prague; San Francisco Symphony, European Festivals Tour: Edinburgh, Proms, Hannover, Berlin, Köln, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Lucerne
- Guest Engagements: Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Mahler – Das Lied von der Erde • Stuart Skelton, Thomas Hampson, San Francisco Symphony
- Mahler – Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Lied des Verfolgten im Turm, Der Tamboursg’sell, Wo die schönen Trompeten blasén, Revelge, Urlicht (Thomas Hampson)
Special Projects:
- The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (Blazer, Benari, Brancoveanu, Widmann-Levy; P. Birch, director) Lincoln Theater, Miami Beach
Television:
- BBC – San Francisco Symphony at Proms; Ives: Symphony No. 3, Strauss: Final scene from Salome, Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
- BBC – San Francisco Symphony at Proms; Mahler: Symphony No. 7
- Keeping Score – Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique. San Francisco Symphony. SFS Media, InCA Productions (David Kennard, Joan Saffa, and Gary Halverson; Directors) Aired on PBS in 2009
- Keeping Score – Ives, Holidays Symphony. San Francisco Symphony. SFS Media, InCA Productions (David Kennard, Joan Saffa, and Gary Halverson; Directors) Aired on PBS in 2009
- Keeping Score – Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5. San Francisco Symphony. SFS Media, InCA Productions (David Kennard, Joan Saffa, and Gary Halverson; Directors) Aired on PBS in 2009
2008
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, Spring United States: New York, New Brunswick, Ann Arbor
- Guest Engagements: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, WDR Philharmonic, Stockholm Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Mahler – Symphony No. 8 (Wall, van den Heever, Claycomb, Karneus, Naef, Griffey, Kelsey, Morris, San Francisco Girls Choir, Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Symphony, & Chorus) (GRAMMY Award – Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance, Best Engineered Classical Album)
Special Projects:
- The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (Blazer, Benari, Brancoveanu, Widmann-Levy; P. Birch, director)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
San Francisco Symphony
Television:
- Stockholm Philharmonic – Mahler: Symphony No. 6
- WDR – Mahler: Symphony No. 6
- PBS – Opening Night at Carnegie Hall: A Celebration of Leonard Bernstein (Ebersole, Hampson, Ma, Upshaw)
2009
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, West Coast tour: Seattle, Chico, Saint Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Palm Desert. London Symphony Orchestra: Dublin, Granada
- Guest Engagements: Munich Philharmonic, Stockholm Philharmonic
- Summer Festivals: Pacific Music Festival, Tanglewood
- Awards: National Medal of Arts
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 (San Francisco Symphony)
- Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 4 (San Francisco Symphony, Emanuel Ax)
Special Projects:
- YouTube Symphony Orchestra; Carnegie Hall (April 15, 2009)
- The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (Blazer, Benari, Brancoveanu, Widmann-Levy; P. Birch, director) Boston Symphony Orchestra; Tanglewood
Television:
- Keeping Score – Mahler: Origins and Legacies. SFS Media, InCA Productions (David Kennard, Joan Saffa, and Gary Halverson; Directors) Aired on PBS in 2011
2010
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, Spring United States tour: Champaign, Ann Arbor, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York. San Francisco Symphony, Fall European tour: Lucerne, Milan, Torino
- Guest Engagements: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Tanglewood
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Ives/Brant – A Concord Symphony • San Francisco Symphony
- Copland – Organ Symphony • San Francisco Symphony, Paul Jacobs
2011
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, Spring European tour: Prague, Vienna, Brussels, Luxembourg, Essen, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon
- Guest Engagements: Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Tanglewood
Special Projects:
- Opening of the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center for the New World Symphony.
- YouTube Symphony Orchestra; Sydney Opera House (March 21, 2011)
- The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (Blazer, Hensley, Brancoveanu, Widmann-Levy; P. Birch, director) Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, New World Symphony
Television:
- The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (Blazer, Hensley, Brancoveanu, Widmann-Levy; P. Birch, director) New World Symphony. Aired on PBS in 2012.
2012
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: London Symphony Orchestra: Madrid, Valencia Zaragoza. American Mavericks Tour: Chicago, Ann Arbor, New York. San Francisco Symphony European Summer Festivals Tour: Wiesbaden, Gstaad, Rimini, Merano, Verona, Berlin, Graffenegg, Bonn, Basel. San Francisco Symphony Asian Tour: Macau, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo
- Guest Engagements: Israel Philharmonic
- Summer Festivals: Stern Grove Festival
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Harrison – Concerto for Organ and Percussion Orchestra • San Francisco Symphony, Paul Jacobs
- Cowell – Piano Concerto • San Francisco Symphony, Jeremy Denk
- Feldman – Piano and Orchestra • San Francisco Symphony, Emanuel Ax
- Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 • San Francisco Symphony & Chorus, Wall, Gladen, Burden, Berg
Special Projects:
- American Mavericks Festival. Barbary Coast & Beyond: Music from the Gold Rush to the Panama-Pacific Exhibition.
- Music and Emotion Through Time talk at TED2012 Full Spectrum Conference
2013
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: Vienna Philharmonic European Tour: Vienna, London, Yerevan, Kiev; San Francisco Symphony Fall United States Tour: New York, Champaign-Urbana, Ann Arbor
- Guest Engagements: Vienna Philharmonic, The Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Philadelphia Orchestra
Special Projects:
- A John Cage Journey (New World Symphony)
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Beethoven – Symphony No. 2 • San Francisco Symphony
- Bernstein – West Side Story • San Francisco Symphony and Chorus
- Mahler – Blumine • San Francisco Symphony
- Masterpieces in Miniature: Debussy – La plus que lente, Rachmaninoff – Vocalise, Sibelius – Valse Triste, Delius – On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, Delibes – “Cortège de Bacchus” from Sylvia • San Francisco Symphony
2014
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony European Tour: Birmingham, London, Paris, Geneva, Dortmund, Luxembourg, Prague, Vienna; San Francisco Symphony Fall United States Tour: Kansas City, Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Boston, Princeton, New York, Miami
- Guest Engagements: Vienna Philharmonic
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Bates – Liquid Interface, The B-Sides, Alternative Energy • San Francisco Symphony
- Beethoven – Mass in C • San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Joélle Harvey, Kelley O’Connor, William Burden, Shenyang
- Brant – Ice Field • San Francisco Symphony, Cameron Carpenter
- Debussy – Images • San Francisco Symphony
- Dvořák – Legend Op. 59 No. 6 • San Francisco Symphony
- Fauré – Pavane, Op. 50 • San Francisco Symphony
- Grieg – The Last Spring, Op. 34, No. 2 • San Francisco Symphony
- Litolff – Scherzo from Concerto symphonique No. 4 • San Francisco Symphony, Yuja Wang
- Schubert – Rosamunde Entr’acte No. 3 • San Francisco Symphony
- Tchaikovsky – Romeo & Juliet, Fantasy-Overture • San Francisco Symphony
- Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 5 • San Francisco Symphony
Special Projects:
- Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (New World Symphony)
- Britten: Peter Grimes (Semi-staged) (San Francisco Symphony, Skelton, van den Heever, Opie, Murray, Relyea, Maultsby, Brancoveanu, SFS Chorus)
2015
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra (1995 – 2015)
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony European Tour: London, Paris, Geneva, Dortmund, Luxembourg, Prague, Vienna. London Symphony Orchestra United States Tour: New York, Davis, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Palm Desert, Costa Mesa, San Diego, Las Vegas, Seattle. New World Symphony: New York, Washington DC
- Guest Engagements: Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Summer Festivals: Tanglewood, San Francisco Symphony Summer Festivals Tour: Edinburgh Festival, Proms, Rheingau Festival, Berlin Festival Opening Concerts, Bucharest Festival, Lucerne Festival, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Paris
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Adams – Grand Pianola Music • San Francisco Symphony, Synergy Vocals, Hamelin, O. Shaham
- Bates – Liquid Interface • San Francisco Symphony
- Beethoven – Mass in C • San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Joélle Harvey, Kelley O’Connor, William Burden, Shenyang
- Berg – Three Pieces for Orchestra • San Francisco Symphony
- Debussy – Images • San Francisco Symphony
- Dvořák – Legend Op. 59 No. 6 • San Francisco Symphony
- Fauré – Pavane, Op. 50 • San Francisco Symphony
- Grieg – The Last Spring, Op. 34, No. 2 • San Francisco Symphony
- Litolff – Scherzo from Concerto symphonique No. 4 • San Francisco Symphony
- Schubert – Rosamunde Entr’acte No. 3 • San Francisco Symphony
- Schumann – Symphony No. 1 • San Francisco Symphony
- Schumann – Symphony No. 3 • San Francisco Symphony
Special Projects:
- Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic co-commission) • Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, Joélle Harvey, Tamara Mumford, Brandon Jovanovich, Luca Pisaroni, James Darrah, David Finn, Finn Ross
- Beethoven Festival, re-creation of the 1808 Akademie concert • Symphony No. 6, Ah, Perfido!, Kyrie and Gloria from Mass in C, Piano Concerto No. 4, Symphony No. 5, Sanctus From Mass in C, Fantasia in G minor for solo piano, Choral Fantasy, Fidelio, Piano Sonata No. 23, String Quartet in E-flat Major
San Francisco Symphony and Chorus, Matilla, Nims, Einfeld, Phan, Shenyang, Biss, Marina, Peterson
MTT 70th Birthday Celebrations
- San Francisco Symphony, Thibaudet, Denk Wang, Ax, Costello, Scaggs, Ulrich, Lesh
- London Symphony Orchestra, Buckingham Palace
- New World Symphony
- Opening of SoundBox • Members of the San Francisco Symphony
2016
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony East Coast Tour: New York, Washington DC. San Francisco Symphony Asia Tour (Seoul, Tainan, Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, Osaka, Tokyo)
- Guest Engagement: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Summer Festivals: Verbier Summer Festival Orchestra
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Schumann – Symphony No. 2 • San Francisco Symphony
- Schumann – Symphony No. 4 • San Francisco Symphony
Special Projects:
- Bernstein: On The Town, semi-staged • San Francisco Symphony, Amanda Green, David Garrison, Tony Yazbeck, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Clyde Alves, Megan Fairchild, Alysha Umphress, Isabel Leonard, Shuler Hensley, Sherri Greenwald, Peabody Southwell
- Steve Reich 80th Birthday Concert • Steve Reich, Kronos Quartet, Michael Tilson Thomas, Eighth Blackbird
- Beethoven Symphony No. 5: Discovery Concert • San Francisco Symphony
- Lou Harrison 100th Birthday Celebration
2017
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony, Carnegie Hall. London Symphony Orchestra Scandinavian Tour (Malmo, Copenhagen, Aalborg)
- Guest Engagement: Louisville Orchestra, Stockholm Philharmonic, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Awards: Inducted into the California Hall of Fame
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Berlioz – Romeo and Juliet • San Francisco Symphony & Chorus, Sasha Cooke, Nicholas Phan, Luca Pisaroni
- Bernstein – Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs; Chichester Psalms; Arias and Barcarolles; Symphonic Dances from West Side Story • San Francisco Symphony, Isabel Leonard, Ryan McKinny
- Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) • San Francisco Symphony
- Ives – Symphony No. 3, The Camp Meeting • San Francisco Symphony
- Ives – Symphony No. 4 • San Francisco Symphony
Special Projects:
- Symphony Pride • San Francisco Symphony, Audra McDonald, Michael Hey
2018
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony West Coast Tour (Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Costa Mesa); London Symphony Orchestra (Baden Baden, Amsterdam, Cologne, Stuttgart); National Youth Orchestra Asian Tour (Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Daejeon)
- Guest Engagement: Philadelphia Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra (Tanglewood), Los Angeles Philharmonic
Recordings for SFS Media:
- Copland – Symphony No. 3
- Berg – Violin Concerto (Gil Shaham)
- Tilson Thomas – From the Diary of Anne Frank (Isabel Leonard)
- Berg – Seven Early Songs
Special Projects:
- Bernstein – Candide, semi-staged • San Francisco Symphony and Chorus, Andrew Stenson, Meghan Picerno, Michael Todd Simpson, Hadleigh Adams, Vanessa Becerra, Sheri Greenawald, Ben Jones, David Varnum, Jonathan Thomas, Matthew Peterson, Clayton Moser, Elliott Encarnación
- Wuorinen – Sudden Changes (SFS Commission, World Premiere)
- Mussorgsky – Boris Godunov, semi-staged • Stanislav Trofimov, Sergei Skorokhodov, Yevgeny Akimov, Vyacheslav Pochapsky,Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev, Aleksey Bogdanov, Stanislav Mostovoy, Jennifer Zetlan, Eliza Bonet, Silvie Jensen, Catherine Cook,Ben Jones, Elliott Encarnación, Matthew Peterson, Jonathan Thomas, Samuel Faustine, Philip Skinner, Chung-Wai Soong, Christopher Bordenave, Judson Emery, Charissa Kroeger, Austyn Rich, Sasha Rivero, and Jobel Medina
- Carnegie Hall Opening Gala • San Francisco Symphony
Compositions:
- Sunset Soliloquy: Whitsett Avenue, 1963 • John Wilson
- Lope • New World Symphony
Television:
- WNET/PBS: Great Performances: The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood (Aired December 2018)
2019
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995 – )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987 – )
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016 – )
- Tours: San Francisco Symphony United States Tour (Seattle, Kansas City, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Champaign-Urbana, Lincoln, Ames); Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Vienna, Lugano, Frankfurt, Budapest, New York)
- Guest Engagements: Orchestre de Paris, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Music Academy of the West
- Awards: Kennedy Center Honors
Special Projects:
- Premiere of Steven Mackey’s Portals, Scenes, Celebrations
- Premiere of Julia Wolfe’s Fountain of Youth with the New World Symphony at Carnegie Hall
- Filming of Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony collaboration S&M 2 for theatrical release
- Premiere of John Adams’ composition I Still Dance with the San Francisco Symphony
- Viola Visions Festival with the New World Symphony, including premiere of reinterpretation of Berlioz’ Harold in Italy, with expanded solo viola section by Steven Mackey
Television:
- Medici.tv: Filming and Broadcast of MTT’s Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, MTT’s expanded orchestration and arrangement of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden, and MTT’s Sunset Soliloquy for Medici TV
2020
- Music Director, San Francisco Symphony (1995- )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987- )
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016- )
- Tours: Tours canceled due to Covid-19
- Guest Engagements: Cleveland Orchestra
- Awards: GRAMMY Award – Best Classical Compendium (Tilson Thomas: From the Diary of Anne Frank & Meditations on Rilke), Named an Officer in the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters)
Compositions:
- Meditations on Rilke (San Francisco Symphony)
Television:
- Medici.tv: All-Stravinsky concert • New World Symphony & Miami City Ballet
- PBS: Michael Tilson Thomas: Where NOW Is for American Masters
2021
- Music Director Laureate, San Francisco Symphony (2020- )
- Artistic Director, New World Symphony (1987–2021)
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016- )
- Guest Engagements: San Francisco Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic
2022
- Music Director Laureate, San Francisco Symphony (2020- )
- Artistic Director Laureate, New World Symphony (2022- )
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016- )
- Guest Engagements: Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Rundfunk, Czech Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra (Tanglewood)
Special Projects:
- Commencement Speaker for Juilliard Graduation Ceremony
2023
- Music Director Laureate, San Francisco Symphony (2020- )
- Artistic Director Laureate, New World Symphony (2021-)
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016- )
- Guest Engagements: Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Tonhalle Orchester Zurich, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Special Projects:
- Miami City Ballet & New World Symphony – Stravinsky’s Agon
Compositions:
- Whitman Songs, new orchestrations
2024
- Music Director Laureate, San Francisco Symphony (2020- )
- Artistic Director Laureate, New World Symphony (2021-)
- Conductor Laureate, London Symphony Orchestra (2016- )
- Guest Engagements: San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra
Special Projects
- Grace: The Music of Michael Tilson Thomas, four-disc recording and booklet