San Francisco Symphony Musicians Call for Board to Keep Esa-Pekka Salonen as Music Director

In Tuesday’s (3/19) San Francisco Chronicle, Joshua Kosman reports, “The musicians of the San Francisco Symphony have issued a statement urging the organization’s leaders to take steps to keep Esa-Pekka Salonen on as the orchestra’s music director, and pinning the responsibility for his decision to leave on the Board of Governors. ‘We are deeply saddened by the news that Esa-Pekka Salonen will not be returning as Music Director as a result of the Board of Governors’ lack of investment in the future of the Symphony,’ read an open letter from the musicians to the board released Monday, March 18. ‘The decision to cut innovative programming and cancel touring, as well as the failure to competitively invest in the Symphony’s musicians, has led to the departure of a world-class Maestro and raises serious questions about the future of the Symphony.’ On Thursday, March 14, Salonen announced plans to step down at the end of the 2024-25 season, when his initial five-year contract expires. His only explanation: ‘I do not share the same goals for the future of the institution as the Board of Governors does.’… Members of the orchestra distributed flyers to audience members at the Symphony’s all-Sibelius concert on Saturday, March 16.”