Musicians of the San Francisco Symphony onstage at Davies Symphony Hall.
In Thursday’s (3/20) San Francisco Chronicle, Lisa Hirsch writes, “Billed as ‘a unique transitional moment’ by [San Francisco] Symphony CEO Matthew Spivey, the upcoming season announced Thursday, March 20, reflects the institution’s ongoing challenges, including the search for a new leader to take the podium … A more standard symphonic repertory, with a special focus on works of Beethoven and Mozart, led by an array of guest conductors dominates the Symphony’s calendar. The institution acknowledged [Music Director Esa-Pekka] Salonen’s impending departure this summer by simply promising more appearances by the Finnish conductor in years to come…. Jaap van Zweden has been tapped to … lead the Symphony opening gala on Sept. 12, which includes Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, with famed Chinese pianist Yuja Wang, and Respighi’s ‘Pines of Rome.’ The orchestra’s focus turns to Beethoven and Mozart in January … The theme continues in February when … Harry Bicket leads an all-Mozart program … and Mozart’s Requiem in a dramatic production conceived by … Manfred Honeck, currently music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Van Zweden, music director of the Seoul Philharmonic, will also be back … to [launch] the orchestra’s three-season Beethoven Symphony Cycle…. Debuting conductor John Storgårds’ … program also includes Finnish composer Outi Tarkiainen’s ‘The Rapids of Life,’ a Symphony commission and world premiere…. Principal trombone and composer Timothy Higgins solos in October in the world premiere of his own ‘Market Street, 1920s’ and appears again in May 2026 in the U.S. premiere of Jimmy López’s trombone concerto ‘Shift.’ ”
