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y JOIN MICHAEL T ILSON THOMAS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY FOR THE 2016-17 SEASON

2016-17 Season

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY SALUTES ITS MAJOR PARTNERS

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AND ENJOY SPECIAL PERKS.

Single ticket prices may rise— prices for subscribers

remain the same all season.

Purchase additional tickets at a discounted subscriber price.

See pages 32–33 for a list of Amazing Add-ons.

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deals and discounts at Bay Area restaurants and merchants.

2016-17 Season

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JOIN MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY FOR THE 2016-17 SEASON

OFFICIAL PARTNERSECOND CENTURY PARTNER

Inaugural Partner Official Airline

MAJOR PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS PUBLIC FUNDING

Radio Home of theSan Francisco Symphony

4 LISTEN TO MUSIC EXCERPTS AT SFSYMPHONY.ORG 5Subscribe 415-864-6000 SFSYMPHONY.ORG

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Internationally acclaimed guest artists join the Symphony for rousing performances of some of

the most beloved works of all time. Experience their mastery as they take musical expression to new heights.

The Symphony showcases the beauty and drama of Italian music and music inspired by Italy. From

a rambunctious Rossini to the reverential Verdi, Italians display their hearts on their sleeves and in their music.

Yuja WangSEP 28–OCT 1

Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1NOV 2–4

Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2

Jean-Yves ThibaudetJAN 26–28

Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G

Yefim BronfmanFEB 9–12

Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4

Gil ShahamMAR 16–18

Barber’s Violin Concerto

Emanuel AxMAY 10–13

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22

Joshua BellJUN 16–18

Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole

Rossini SEP 9–10

William Tell Overture

VerdiSEP 22–24

Te Deum

AllegriOCT 27–30

Miserere

R. Strauss APR 27–29

Aus Italien

VivaldiMAY 31–JUN 1

The Four Seasons

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SEP 22–24 TENOR MICHAEL FABIANO PERFORMS ITALIAN ARIAS BELL SHAHAM THIBAUDET

“Spectacular”T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S

Guest Artists Take the Stage

The Beauty & Drama of Italy

YUJA WANG

“Simply breathtaking”

S A N F R A N C I S C O C H R O N I C L E

MICHAEL FABIANO


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Film A PackageFOUR CONCERTS WITH FILMS

FRI OCT 14 8PM 2001: A Space Odyssey

SUN JAN 8 2PM On the Waterfront

FRI APR 14 8PM Raiders of the Lost Ark

FRI JUN 2 8PM Casablanca

Apr 14 and Jun 2 supported by Film B PackageFOUR CONCERTS WITH FILMS

SAT OCT 15 8PM 2001: A Space Odyssey

SAT JAN 7 3PM On the Waterfront

SAT APR 15 8PM Raiders of the Lost Ark

SAT JUN 3 8PM Casablanca

CASABL ANCA

R AIDERS OF THE LOST ARK ON THE WATERFRONT

OCT 14–15

2001: A Space Odyssey

Experience the gripping story of a not-so-distant future in Kubrick’s Academy Award®-winning masterpiece. The stunning visuals are in perfect counterpoint with the epic score, featuring music by R. Strauss, Strauss Jr., and Ligeti.

Brad Lubman conductor San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

Presented in association with Warner Bros., Southbank Centre London, and the British Film Institute.

JAN 7–8

On the Waterfront

Hear Leonard Bernstein’s original score and see the great Marlon Brando in Elia Kazan’s classic film (screenplay by Budd Schulberg), winner of eight Academy Awards® including Best Picture. This timeless story about violence, corruption and redemption, with an Oscar®-nominated score, is one of the greatest films of all time according to the American Film Institute.

David Newman conductor San Francisco Symphony

APR 14–15

Raiders of the Lost Ark

The film that gave the world one of its greatest movie heroes, Indiana Jones, is back and better than ever. Relive the magic on the big screen in this 35th anniversary celebration of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Follow Indiana Jones’ (Harrison Ford) unfor-gettable quest while the SF Symphony plays John Williams’ epic score live.

Emil de Cou conductor San Francisco Symphony

© 1981 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

JUN 2–3

Casablanca

This great American classic about love and war sweeps you up in the drama with Max Steiner’s moving, Oscar®-nominated score and Rick’s (Humphrey Bogart) brooding struggle to do what is right for himself, and for his long-lost love, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman.)

Sarah Hicks conductor San Francisco Symphony

Film Series

The Symphony’s Film Series brings Hollywood’s finest to Davies Symphony Hall, with fantastic performances on screen and on stage. Enjoy great American

cinema like never before—with the score performed live by the SF Symphony.

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

8 9 LISTEN TO MUSIC EXCERPTS AT SFSYMPHONY.ORG Subscribe 415-864-6000 SFSYMPHONY.ORG

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Subscription Packages: Davies Symphony Hall Classical Series TURN TO PAGE 13 FOR CONCERT DETAILS IN DATE ORDER.

Come celebrate the birthdays of some of the greatest conductors and composers of our time. With careers

spanning the 20th century and close connections to the Bay Area, these masters, and their work, continue to shape the course of classical music by creating new possibilities for performance and music.

70 YEARS

John Adams FEB 16–18

The Gospel According to the Other Mary

FEB 22–25

Scheherazade.2

80 YEARS

Steve ReichSEP 9–10

Double SextetThree Movements

100 YEARS

Lou Harrison JUN 23–25

Suite for Symphonic Strings

Birthday Celebrations of Musical Greats

JOHN ADAMS AND STEVE REICH IN 1984

LOU HARRISON, MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS, AND JOHN ADAMS TOGETHER IN 2000 AT THE SYMPHONY’S ORIGINAL AMERICAN MAVERICKS FESTIVAL

HERBERT BLOMSTEDT WITH FORMER SF SYMPHONY

MUSIC DIRECTOR EDO DE WA ART

90 YEARS

Herbert Blomstedt Music Director of the SF Symphony

from 1985 to 1995 returns for two weeks of concerts

FEB 1–3

Blomstedt conducts Beethoven’s 9th

FEB 9–12

Blomstedt conducts Beethoven and Brahms

Subscription Packages

Wednesday Packages

Wednesday C Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 28 Yuja Wang and Stravinsky’s Firebird OCT 19 Heras-Casado conducts Mozart and Dvořák FEB 22 MTT conducts Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet MAR 1 MTT conducts Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich MAY 10 Emanuel Ax plays Mozart MAY 31 Immortal Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Wednesday D Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 14 MTT conducts Beethoven’s Fifth NOV 2 Yuja Wang plays Chopin FEB 1 Beethoven’s Ode to Joy APR 19 Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff MAY 17 Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony JUN 28 MTT conducts Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

Beautiful Davies Symphony Hall, home of the San Francisco Symphony, hosts more than 200 concerts throughout the season and offers in-house dining and drinks, unique shopping, and more.

Browse the following subscription packages and turn to page 13 for concert details.

Wednesday Z Combo Package TWELVE CONCERTS AT 8PM

Buy all 12 concerts and get a complimentary concert ticket. Combine Wed C + D.


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Subscription Packages: Davies Symphony Hall Classical Series TURN TO PAGE 13 FOR CONCERT DETAILS IN DATE ORDER.Subscription Packages: Davies Symphony Hall Classical Series TURN TO PAGE 13 FOR CONCERT DETAILS IN DATE ORDER.

Thursday A Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 15 MTT conducts Beethoven’s Fifth NOV 3 Yuja Wang plays Chopin FEB 16 John Adams’ The Gospel According to

the Other Mary MAR 23 MTT conducts Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra APR 27 German Romanticism: Schumann and R. Strauss MAY 4 Berlioz’s Requiem

Thursday B Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 22 Viva Verdi: Italian Masterworks JAN 19 Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 FEB 23 MTT conducts Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet MAR 9 Beethoven and Brahms MAR 30 MTT conducts Mahler MAY 11 Emanuel Ax plays Mozart

Thursday C Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 29 Yuja Wang and Stravinsky’s Firebird OCT 27 MTT conducts Brahms Symphony No. 2 DEC 15 Handel’s Messiah MAR 16 Beethoven and Barber, featuring Gil Shaham MAY 25 Shostakovich with Matthias Goerne and

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth JUN 29 MTT conducts Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

COMBO Thursday Z Combo Package TWELVE CONCERTS AT 8PM

Buy 12 concerts and get a complimentary concert ticket. Combine Thu A + B.

THU M Rhoda Goldman Thursday Matinee Package SIX CONCERTS AT 2PM

OCT 20 Heras-Casado conducts Mozart and Dvořák JAN 26 Thibaudet plays Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G FEB 9 Bronfman, Blomstedt, Beethoven, and Brahms MAR 2 MTT conducts Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich APR 20 Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff JUN 1 Immortal Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

The Thursday Matinee concerts are endowed by a gift in memory of Rhoda Goldman. For information about making endowment or memorial gifts, contact Gift Planning, at 415-503-5482 or [email protected].

Thursday Matinee

Bus Packages

Sit back, relax, and let us bring you to the Symphony! We offer several Bus Packages that make enjoying San Francisco Symphony concerts easier than ever. Our round-trip charter bus service will pick you up at a location close to your home and drop you off at Davies Symphony Hall for the Rhoda Goldman Thursday Matinee concerts. Bus Package pickup is available in several surrounding communities:

Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley Chico/Yuba City Lodi Modesto Sacramento/Davis San Carlos Santa Rosa Stockton/Manteca Menlo-Atherton Los Gatos Walnut Creek/Orinda

For Bus Package information, contact Mary Mercurio at 415-503-5488 or [email protected].

Thursday Packages

LEE ANN CROCKER , BASS

Friday C Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 16 MTT conducts Beethoven’s Fifth NOV 4 Yuja Wang plays Chopin FEB 3 Beethoven’s Ode to Joy MAR 10 Beethoven and Brahms MAY 5 Berlioz’s Requiem JUN 9 Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring

Friday D Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

OCT 21 Heras-Casado conducts Mozart and Dvořák DEC 16 Handel’s Messiah FEB 24 MTT conducts Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet MAR 31 MTT conducts Mahler APR 28 German Romanticism: Schumann and R. Strauss JUN 30 MTT conducts Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

Friday E Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 9 MTT conducts Reich and Copland OCT 28 MTT conducts Brahms Symphony No. 2 JAN 27 Thibaudet plays Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G MAR 3 MTT conducts Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich MAY 19 Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony JUN 16 Joshua Bell plays Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole

Friday F Package SIX CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 30 Yuja Wang and Stravinsky’s Firebird JAN 13 MTT conducts Das klagende Lied:

A Semi-Staged Event FEB 17 John Adams’ The Gospel According to

the Other Mary MAR 17 Beethoven and Barber, featuring Gil Shaham MAY 12 Emanuel Ax plays Mozart MAY 26 Shostakovich with Matthias Goerne and

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth

Friday 7:30 Package SIX CONCERTS AT 7:30PM

SEP 23 Viva Verdi: Italian Masterworks JAN 20 Mozart’s Symphony No. 36, Linz FEB 10 Bronfman, Blomstedt, Beethoven, and Brahms MAR 24 MTT conducts Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra APR 21 Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff JUN 23 MTT conducts American Mavericks

Friday A Combo Package TWELVE CONCERTS AT 8PM

Buy 12 concerts and get a complimentary concert ticket. Combine Fri C + E.

Friday B Combo Package TWELVE CONCERTS AT 8PM

Buy 12 concerts and get a complimentary concert ticket. Combine Fri D + F.

Friday Z Combo Package TWENTY-FOUR CONCERTS AT 8PM

Buy all 24 concerts and get extra perks—an additional seat upgrade, a complimentary concert ticket, and a complimentary drink voucher. Combine Fri C + D + E + F.

Friday Packages

JESSICA VALERI , FRENCH HORN


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Concerts: Davies Symphony Hall Classical Series TURN TO PAGE 9 FOR PACK AGE SUMMARIES.Subscription Packages: Davies Symphony Hall Classical Series TURN TO PAGE 13 FOR CONCERT DETAILS IN DATE ORDER.

Saturday A Package SEVEN CONCERTS AT 8PM

OCT 1 Yuja Wang and Stravinsky’s Firebird JAN 14 MTT conducts Das klagende Lied:

A Semi-Staged Event FEB 18 John Adams’ The Gospel According to

the Other Mary MAR 11 Beethoven and Brahms APR 29 German Romanticism: Schumann and Strauss MAY 20 Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony JUL 1 MTT conducts Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

Saturday B Package SEVEN CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 24 Viva Verdi: Italian Masterworks OCT 29 MTT conducts Brahms Symphony No. 2 JAN 21 Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 MAR 18 Beethoven and Barber, featuring Gil Shaham MAY 13 Emanuel Ax plays Mozart MAY 27 Shostakovich with Matthias Goerne and

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth JUN 24 MTT conducts American Mavericks

Saturday C Package SEVEN CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 17 MTT conducts Beethoven’s Fifth DEC 17 Handel’s Messiah FEB 11 Bronfman, Blomstedt, Beethoven, and Brahms MAR 4 MTT conducts Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich APR 1 MTT conducts Mahler Symphonies APR 22 Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff JUN 17 Joshua Bell plays Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole

Saturday D Package SEVEN CONCERTS AT 8PM

SEP 10 MTT conducts Reich and Copland OCT 22 Heras-Casado conducts Mozart and Dvořák JAN 28 Thibaudet plays Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major FEB 25 MTT conducts Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet MAR 25 Benedetti plays Bruch MAY 6 Berlioz’s Requiem JUN 10 Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring

Saturday Combo Packages FOURTEEN CONCERTS AT 8PM

Buy 14 concerts and get a complimentary concert ticket. Combine any two Saturday packages.

Buy 21 or all 28 concerts and get extra perks—an additional seat upgrade, complimentary concert ticket, and a complimentary drink voucher. Combine any three or four Saturday packages.

Sunday Matinee A Package SIX CONCERTS AT 2PM

JAN 15 MTT conducts Das klagende Lied: A Semi-Staged Event

FEB 5 Beethoven’s Ode to Joy MAR 12 Beethoven and Brahms MAR 26 Benedetti plays Bruch MAY 21 Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony JUN 18 Joshua Bell plays Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole

Sunday Matinee B Package SIX CONCERTS AT 2PM

OCT 30 MTT conducts Brahms Symphony No. 2 JAN 22 Mozart’s Symphony No. 36, Linz FEB 12 Bronfman, Blomstedt, Beethoven, and Brahms APR 2 MTT conducts Mahler Symphonies JUN 11 Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring JUN 25 MTT conducts American Mavericks

Sunday Matinee Z Combo Package TWELVE CONCERTS AT 2PM

Buy all 12 concerts and get a complimentary concert ticket. Combine Sun A + B.

Saturday & Sunday Packages

EUGENE IZOTOV, PRINCIPAL OBOE

MTT conducts Reich and Copland FRI SEP 9 8PM

SAT SEP 10 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Susanna Phillips soprano Eighth Blackbird ensemble San Francisco Symphony

Copland Billy the Kid Suite Selection of American Songs Steve Reich Double Sextet Steve Reich Three Movements

In celebration of “the most original musical thinker of our time,” (The New Yorker) MTT pays tribute to composer Steve Reich alongside American masterworks including a selection of American songs with soprano Susanna Phillips. Grammy Award–winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird joins members of the SF Symphony for Reich’s Double Sextet and the program culminates with the full orchestra in Reich’s Three Movements.

Buy this concert in: FRI E SAT D

MTT conducts Beethoven’s FifthWED SEP 14 8PM

THU SEP 15 8PM

FRI SEP 16 8PM

SAT SEP 17 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor San Francisco Symphony

Haydn Symphony No. 69, Laudon Sibelius Symphony No. 3 Beethoven Symphony No. 5

Experience the exhilaration and visceral intensity of Beethoven’s beloved Fifth Symphony with MTT and the San Francisco Symphony, who ensure “the work’s raw energy and triumphal power sound more explosive than ever.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

Buy this concert in: WED D THU A FRI C SAT C

Viva Verdi: Italian MasterworksTHU SEPT 22 8PM

FRI SEPT 23 7:30PM

SAT SEPT 24 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Michael Fabiano tenor The Swingle Singers vocal ensemble Eugene Izotov oboe San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

Marcello Oboe Concerto in C minor Berio Sinfonia for Eight Solo Voices and Orchestra Selection of Italian Arias Verdi Te Deum

Verdi, who holds one of the most stunning, overarching operatic legacies of all time, is central to this program which features the show-stopping tenor Michael Fabiano with “blazing trumpet-like high notes” (Opera Britannica) as well as Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble The Swingle Singers and SF Symphony Principal Oboe Eugene Izotov.

Buy this concert in: THU B FRI 7:30 SAT B

Yuja Wang and Stravinsky’s FirebirdWED SEP 28 8PM

THU SEP 29 8PM

FRI SEP 30 8PM

SAT OCT 1 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Yuja Wang piano Mark Inouye trumpet San Francisco Symphony

Bright Sheng “Overture” to Dream of the Red Chamber (SFS Commission) Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 Stravinsky Le Chant du rossignol Stravinsky The Firebird Suite (1919 version)

“She is, quite simply, the most dazzling, uncannily gifted pianist in the concert world today.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

Experience Yuja Wang with the San Francisco Symphony performing Shostakovich’s sardonic Piano Concerto No. 1, plus music from Stravinsky’s ground-breaking ballet, The Firebird, and his symphonic poem inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s The Nightingale.

Buy this concert in: WED C THU C FRI F SAT A

ConcertsBrowse concert details here. See pages 9–12 for package summaries.

SEP 28–OCT 1 YUJA WANG


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Concerts: Davies Symphony Hall Classical Series TURN TO PAGE 9 FOR PACK AGE SUMMARIES.Concerts: Davies Symphony Hall Classical Series TURN TO PAGE 9 FOR PACK AGE SUMMARIES.

Heras-Casado conducts Mozart and Dvožák

WED OCT 19 8PM

THU OCT 20 2PM

FRI OCT 21 8PM

SAT OCT 22 8PM

Pablo Heras-Casado conductor Alisa Weilerstein cello San Francisco Symphony

Mozart Symphony No. 29 Schumann Cello Concerto Dvořák Symphony No. 7

Enjoy a blockbuster double bill of symphonies conducted by audience favorite Pablo Heras-Casado: Mozart’s bright Symphony No. 29 and Dvořák’s dramatic and profoundly intimate Symphony No. 7. Alisa Weilerstein brings her “impassioned, intelligent playing” (The New York Times) to Schumann’s poignant Cello Concerto.

The Thursday Matinee concerts are endowed by a gift in memory of Rhoda Goldman.

Buy this concert in: WED C THU M FRI D SAT D

MTT conducts Brahms Symphony No. 2

THU OCT 27 10AMKatharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal

THU OCT 27 8PM

FRI OCT 28 8PM

SAT OCT 29 8PM

SUN OCT 30 2PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Rudolph Buchbinder piano Pacific Boychoir, Kevin Fox director San Francisco Symphony

Allegri Miserere Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 Brahms Symphony No. 2

Listen for Brahms’ familiar Lullaby in his pensive and joyful Symphony No. 2, composed in a burst of inspiration in the sun-drenched Austrian countryside. Plus, acclaimed pianist Rudolf Buchbinder performs Mozart’s stormy Piano Concerto No. 20, known to be one of Beethoven’s favorite pieces of music.

Katharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal is a working rehearsal. The pieces rehearsed are at the conductor’s discretion.

Buy this concert in: OPEN THU C FRI E SAT B

Yuja Wang plays ChopinWED NOV 2 8PM

THU NOV 3 8PM

FRI NOV 4 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Yuja Wang piano San Francisco Symphony

Michael Tilson Thomas Agnegram Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 Bruckner Symphony No. 7

“She seems to have everything: speed, flexibility, pianistic thunder, and interpretive nuance.” (The New York Times) Yuja Wang shines alongside Michael Tilson Thomas’ spirited Agnegram, written for the Symphony’s long-time patron and friend Agnes Albert with her initials spelling out the melody. This dynamic program also features Bruckner’s expansive Seventh Symphony.

Buy this concert in: WED D THU A FRI C

Handel’s MessiahTHU DEC 15 8PM

FRI DEC 16 8PM

SAT DEC 17 8PM

Patrick Dupré Quigley conductor Lauren Snouffer soprano Anthony Roth Costanzo countertenor Zachary Wilder tenor Christian Van Horn bass-baritone San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

Handel Messiah

Hallelujah! Patrick Dupré Quigley makes his SF Symphony conducting debut and leads Handel’s celebrated Messiah with the Grammy Award-winning Symphony Chorus and SF Symphony. Mark your calendars now to witness one of the Bay Area’s favorite holiday traditions and experience the thundering glory of this joyous music.

Buy this concert in: THU C FRI D SAT C

MTT conducts Das klagende Lied: A Semi-Staged Event

FRI JAN 13 8PM

SAT JAN 14 8PM

SUN JAN 15 2PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Joélle Harvey soprano Sasha Cooke mezzo-soprano Brian Mulligan baritone James Darrah stage director Adam Larsen video designer San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

Mahler Blumine Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer) Mahler Das klagende Lied [semi-staged]

Michael Tilson Thomas leads an internationally-renowned cast of singers in Mahler's earliest works. Although Das klagende Lied was conceived as an unstaged cantata, MTT and Stage Director James Darrah expand its scope to incorporate scenic elements, original projections by videographer Adam Larsen, costumes, and lighting to create a dark fairy tale kingdom where two brothers battle for a Queen's love.

Supported by the Barbro and Bernard Osher Staged Production Fund.

Buy this concert in: FRI F SAT A SUN A

JAN 13–15 JOÉLLE HARVEY

Mozart’s Symphony No. 36THU JAN 19 10AMKatharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal

THU JAN 19 8PM

FRI JAN 20 7:30PM

SAT JAN 21 8PM

SUN JAN 22 2PM

James Gaffigan conductor Simone Lamsma violin San Francisco Symphony

Mussorgsky A Night on Bald Mountain Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 Mozart Symphony No. 36, Linz R. Strauss “Dance of the Seven Veils” from Salome

James Gaffigan leads an exhilarating program featuring the “absolutely stunning” (Chicago Tribune) violinist Simone Lamsma performing Prokofiev’s passionate Violin Concerto No. 2 and showcasing the Symphony in the original orchestration of Mussorgsky’s A Night on Bald Mountain. Also, hear Mozart’s blazing Symphony No. 36—written in just four days for a surprise concert in Linz—and R. Strauss’ arresting interpretation of Salome’s sensual dance for King Herod.


Buy this concert in: OPEN THU B FRI 7:30 SAT B SUN B

Thibaudet plays Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G

THU JAN 26 2PM

FRI JAN 27 8PM

SAT JAN 28 8PM

Lionel Bringuier conductor Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano San Francisco Symphony

Kodály Dances of Galánta Ravel Piano Concerto in G major Beethoven Symphony No. 4

Lionel Bringuier conducts a vibrant program, from the Hungarian folk music of Kodály’s Dances of Galánta to the sounds of American jazz in Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major. Acclaimed pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet returns to Davies Symphony Hall, bringing “sophistication and suavity, both clarity and a freedom infused by the spirit of jazz.” (The New York Times)


Buy this concert in: THU M FRI E SAT D

Beethoven’s Ode to JoyWED FEB 1 8PM

FRI FEB 3 8PM

SUN FEB 5 2PM

Herbert Blomstedt conductor San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

Beethoven Symphony No. 9

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9—which ends with the unforgettable Ode to Joy and is the first symphony joining the forces of orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists—is one of the most influential works of all time. Experience this powerful, triumphant masterpiece with Conductor Laureate Herbert Blomstedt and the Grammy Award–winning SF Symphony and Chorus.

The Feb 5 concert benefits the Orchestra’s pension fund.

Buy this concert in: WED D FRI C SUN A

Bronfman, Blomstedt, Beethoven, and Brahms

THU FEB 9 2PM

FRI FEB 10 7:30PM

SAT FEB 11 8PM

SUN FEB 12 2PM

Herbert Blomstedt conductor Yefim Bronfman piano San Francisco Symphony

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 Brahms Symphony No. 3

At its premiere, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 was hailed as the most singular, artistic, and complex concerto the composer had ever written. Hear celebrated pianist Yefim Bronfman play this master work, followed by the San Francisco Symphony performing Brahms’ beautiful Symphony No. 3, described by critics as “Brahms’ Eroica.”


Buy this concert in: THU M FRI 7:30 SAT C SUN B

John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary

THU FEB 16 8PM

FRI FEB 17 8PM

SAT FEB 18 8PM

Joana Carneiro conductor Kelley O’Connor mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford mezzo-soprano Jay Hunter Morris tenor Daniel Bubeck, Brian Cummings, Nathan Medley countertenors San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

John Adams The Gospel According to the Other Mary

Social justice, political unrest, miracles, and resurrection. Join the San Francisco Symphony in celebrating John Adams’ 70th birthday with “the most sophisticated, majestic, and moving [music] of his career.” (Los Angeles Times) With a libretto by Peter Sellars built on texts and poems from feminist writers and social activists, Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary will be a powerful, not-to-be-missed event.

Buy this concert in: THU A FRI F SAT A

JAN 26–28 JEAN-Y VES THIBAUDET


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Benedetti plays BruchSAT MAR 25 8PM

SUN MAR 26 2PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Nicola Benedetti violin San Francisco Symphony

Cage The Seasons [with video] Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 Bartók Concerto for Orchestra

Violinist Nicola Benedetti, whose playing emanates “radiant lofty lyricism, touching intimate bluesiness, and furious rhythmic energy,” (The Telegraph) performs Bruch’s First Violin Concerto, a beloved masterpiece of Romantic lyricism, with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony.

Buy this concert in: SAT D SUN A

MTT conducts MahlerTHU MAR 30 8PM

FRI MAR 31 8PM

SAT APR 1 8PM

SUN APR 2 2PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor San Francisco Symphony

Mahler Adagio from Symphony No. 10 Mahler Symphony No. 1

With seven Grammys for recordings of Mahler’s symphonies, Michael Tilson Thomas and the SF Symphony are “the most exciting Mahler combination anywhere.” (Los Angeles Times) You won’t want to miss the thrilling combination of the poignant Adagio from Mahler’s Tenth alongside the storied First Symphony, which is infused with enchanting melodies, stormy episodes, and glorious, final bursts of light.

Buy this concert in: THU B FRI D SAT C SUN B

Prokofiev and RachmaninoffWED APR 19 10AMKatharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal

WED APR 19 8PM

THU APR 20 2PM

FRI APR 21 7:30PM

SAT APR 22 8PM

Andrés Orozco-Estrada conductor Denis Kozhukhin piano San Francisco Symphony

Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2

Hailed as “leader of the pack of Russian pianists,” (Classical Source) Denis Kozhukhin

takes on Prokofiev's fiendishly challenging Piano Concerto No. 2, a work he has performed worldwide to rave reviews: “From the spare chill elegance of the first movement’s opening to the keyboard cascades that followed, Kozhukhin had an absolute free-ranging authority.” (The Guardian) Then, experience Rachmaninoff’s romantic Second Symphony as it moves from brooding restraint to wild energy, and is punctuated by unforgettable moments of utmost beauty.



Buy this concert in: OPEN WED D THU M FRI 7:30 SAT C

German Romanticism: Schumann and Strauss

THU APR 27 10AMKatharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal

THU APR 27 8PM

FRI APR 28 8PM

SAT APR 29 8PM

Fabio Luisi conductor Igor Levit piano San Francisco Symphony

Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor R. Strauss Aus Italien

Metropolitan Opera Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi leads an intense German

program of Schumann and Strauss. “In a class of his own,” (The Telegraph) pianist Igor Levit performs Schumann’s exhilarating Piano Concerto. Then, envision breathtaking Roman ruins and sweeping rural landscapes in Richard Strauss’ first tone poem, Aus Italien, inspired by the young composer’s trip to Italy.


Buy this concert in: OPEN THU A FRI D SAT A

Berlioz’s RequiemTHU MAY 4 8PM

FRI MAY 5 8PM

SAT MAY 6 8PM

Charles Dutoit conductor Paul Groves tenor San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

Berlioz Requiem

Witness 400 musicians performing one of the most extraordinary works ever written. Don’t miss the theatrical flair, fervent passion, and staggering power of Berlioz’s epic Requiem, led by preeminent conductor Charles Dutoit with the SF Symphony and Chorus.

Buy this concert in: THU A FRI C SAT D

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS

MAR 9–12 AR ABELL A STEINBACHER

PLEASE CONTINUE BROWSING CONCERTS ON PAGE 21

MTT conducts Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet

WED FEB 22 8PM

THU FEB 23 8PM

FRI FEB 24 8PM

SAT FEB 25 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Leila Josefowicz violin San Francisco Symphony

John Adams Scheherazade.2 Prokofiev Selections from Romeo and Juliet

Michael Tilson Thomas and the SF Symphony won their first Grammy together for their exquisite recording of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. Hear the dramatic story unfold paired with John Adams’ imaginative Scheherazade.2, written for violinist Leila Josefowicz as the “wonderfully committed and ferociously intense” (The Guardian) musical heroine in this celebration of female strength.

Buy this concert in: WED C THU B FRI D SAT D

MTT conducts Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich

WED MAR 1 8PM

THU MAR 2 2PM

FRI MAR 3 8PM

SAT MAR 4 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Gautier Capuçon cello San Francisco Symphony

Gnesin The Jewish Orchestra at the Ball of Nothingtown Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6, Pathétique

Gautier Capuçon’s performances with the SF Symphony are “thoughtful, highly dramatic, and played with precision and grace.” (San Francisco Chronicle) The acclaimed cellist joins Michael Tilson Thomas for Shostakovich’s provocative Cello Concerto No. 1. The orchestra then plays Tchaikovsky’s ardent Pathétique Symphony, known as one of the composer’s proudest achievements.


Buy this concert in: WED C THU M FRI E SAT C

Beethoven and BrahmsTHU MAR 9 10AMKatharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal

THU MAR 9 8PM

FRI MAR 10 8PM

SAT MAR 11 8PM

SUN MAR 12 2PM

Marek Janowski conductor Arabella Steinbacher violin San Francisco Symphony

Beethoven Coriolan Overture Hindemith Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No. 4

This concert pairs two composers’ confrontations with war: the Coriolan

Overture, Beethoven’s depiction of a Roman general’s vengeful attack on his homeland, and Hindemith’s raw Violin Concerto, written at the beginning of World War II, performed by captivating violinist Arabella Steinbacher. Brahms’ beloved Symphony No. 4 completes this compelling program.


Buy this concert in: OPEN THU B FRI C SAT A SUN A

Beethoven and Barber, featuring Gil Shaham

THU MAR 16 8PM

FRI MAR 17 8PM

SAT MAR 18 8PM

Juraj Valčuha conductor Gil Shaham violin San Francisco Symphony

Schreker Chamber Symphony Barber Violin Concerto Beethoven Symphony No. 7

With its high energy and rhythmic vivacity, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 is part tumultuous, part mysterious, and all joy. Matching its brilliance is violinist Gil Shaham in a performance of Barber’s Violin Concerto sure to showcase his “soulful eloquence and vigor that still [makes] room for unbridled shows of virtuosity.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

Buy this concert in: THU C FRI F SAT B

MTT conducts Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra

THU MAR 23 8PM

FRI MAR 24 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Jeffrey Anderson tuba San Francisco Symphony

Cage The Seasons [with video] Robin Holloway Europa and the Bull (SFS Co-commission) Bartók Concerto for Orchestra

Showcasing each section of the orchestra in this five-movement masterpiece, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra utilizes every corner of the symphony to its full potential. On a program also featuring Cage’s The Seasons, written only a few years after Bartók’s work, hear the groundbreaking uses of tonality, form, and expression in mid-century classical music.

Buy this concert in: THU A FRI 7:30


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Emanuel Ax plays MozartWED MAY 10 10AMKatharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal

WED MAY 10 8PM

THU MAY 11 8PM

FRI MAY 12 8PM

SAT MAY 13 8PM

Charles Dutoit conductor Emanuel Ax piano San Francisco Symphony

Sibelius Karelia Suite Mozart Piano Concerto No. 22 Falla Three Dances from The Three-Cornered Hat Debussy La Mer

Seven-time Grammy Award-winner Emanuel Ax joins internationally renowned conductor Charles Dutoit for Mozart’s sparkling Piano Concerto No. 22. Then, La Mer, one of Debussy’s most famous works, offers a dazzling symphonic impression of the composer’s childhood visits to the ocean.


Buy this concert in: OPEN WED C THU B FRI F SAT B

Mendelssohn’s Scottish SymphonyWED MAY 17 8PM

FRI MAY 19 8PM

SAT MAY 20 8PM

SUN MAY 21 2PM

Roberto Abbado conductor Veronika Eberle violin San Francisco Symphony

Schumann Violin Concerto Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, Scottish

Guest conductor Roberto Abbado leads Mendelssohn’s beautiful Symphony No. 3, nicknamed Scottish after the quiet chapel where Mary was crowned Queen of Scotland. Plus, violinist Veronika Eberle brings “introverted intensity and interpretive boldness” (The New York Times) to Schumann’s lyrical Violin Concerto.

Buy this concert in: WED D FRI E SAT A SUN A

Shostakovich with Matthias Goerne and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth

THU MAY 25 10AMKatharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal

THU MAY 25 8PM

FRI MAY 26 8PM

SAT MAY 27 8PM

Manfred Honeck conductor Matthias Goerne baritone San Francisco Symphony

Shostakovich Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

A symphony in all but name, Shostakovich’s Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti is a tribute to Mahler’s song cycle Das Lied von der Erde. Hear Shostakovich’s moving depiction of the famous artist’s achievements and struggles through the majestic voice of Matthias Goerne, followed by Tchaikovsky’s soaring Fifth Symphony.


Buy this concert in: OPEN THU C FRI F SAT B

Immortal Vivaldi: The Four SeasonsWED MAY 31 8PM

THU JUN 1 2PM

Alexander Barantschik violinist and leader San Francisco Symphony

Vivaldi The Four Seasons Mozart Divertimento No. 11 J. S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2

Vivaldi’s popular Four Seasons is full of musical onomatopoeia that sweep you through the seasons. Dream your way through a year of flowering meadows, merciless summer sun, bountiful harvests, and slippery ice, led by SF Symphony Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik.


Buy this concert in: WED C THU M

Stravinsky’s The Rite of SpringFRI JUN 9 10AMKatharine Hanrahan Open Rehearsal

FRI JUN 9 8PM

SAT JUN 10 8PM

SUN JUN 11 2PM

Susanna Mälkki conductor Garrick Ohlsson piano San Francisco Symphony

Debussy Printemps, Suite symphonique Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 Stravinsky Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)

Head into spring with a musical burst of color and excitement, from Stravinsky’s revolutionary Le Sacre du printemps to Debussy’s charming take on new life in spring. Conductor Susanna Mälkki returns following rave reviews last season for bringing out “serenity and wit, lyricism and rawness, whispering delicacy and harrowing abandon” (San Francisco Classical

Voice) in the orchestra, along with pianist Garrick Ohlsson, longtime SF Symphony favorite, whose artistry combines “strength, sensitivity and stylistic insight” (San Francisco Chronicle) in Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto.


Buy this concert in: OPEN FRI C SAT D SUN B

MAY 10–13 EMANUEL A X

Joshua Bell plays Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole

FRI JUN 16 8PM

SAT JUN 17 8PM

SUN JUN 18 2PM

Vasily Petrenko conductor Joshua Bell violin San Francisco Symphony

Glinka Capriccio brillante on the Jota Aragonesa Lalo Symphonie espagnole Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 1

Don’t miss your chance to see Grammy Award winner and classical music superstar Joshua Bell, alongside acclaimed guest conductor Vasily Petrenko. Hailed as “imaginative, technically gifted and altogether extraordinary,” (The Washington

Post) Bell plays Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, followed by the SF Symphony performing Rachmaninoff’s exquisite Symphony No. 1.

Buy this concert in: FRI E SAT C SUN A

“Joshua Bell is the greatest American

violinist active today.”

T H E B O S T O N H E R A L D

MTT conducts American MavericksFRI JUN 23 7:30PM

SAT JUN 24 8PM

SUN JUN 25 2PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Measha Brueggergosman mezzo-soprano San Francisco Symphony

Ives From the Steeples and the Mountains Ives The Unanswered Question Michael Tilson Thomas Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind (West Coast Premiere) Harrison Suite for Symphonic Strings Antheil Jazz Symphony

Join Michael Tilson Thomas for a special, all-American program, including radical works by Charles Ives and Lou Harrison, as well as MTT’s own tumultuous setting of Carl Sandburg’s poem, Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, featuring “glowing soprano Measha Brueggergosman.” (Opera) Then, enjoy a rare and exciting performance of Antheil's Jazz Symphony in a blend of music, imagery, and dance that infuses the orchestral palette with Creole and New Orleans jazz.

The Jun 25 concert benefits the Orchestra’s pension fund.

Buy this concert in: FRI 7:30 SAT B SUN B

MTT conducts Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

WED JUN 28 8PM

THU JUN 29 8PM

FRI JUN 30 8PM

SAT JUL 1 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Sasha Cooke mezzo-soprano Nicholas Phan tenor Luca Pisaroni bass-baritone San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

Berlioz Roméo et Juliette

Berlioz’s interpretation of the world’s greatest romance brings the star-crossed lovers into the very fabric of the orchestra, with the warring families represented by the Grammy Award-winning SF Symphony Chorus. Internationally acclaimed opera singers Luca Pisaroni, Nicholas Phan, and Sasha Cooke complete the cast to bring Shakespeare’s tragedy to life like you’ve never experienced it before, all led by Michael Tilson Thomas.

Buy this concert in: WED D THU C FRI D SAT AJUN 16–18 JOSHUA BELL

JUN 23–25 MEASHA BRUEGGERGOSMAN


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Great Performers SeriesGreat Performers Series

Great Performers

GPS A Great Performers A Package SIX EVENING CONCERTS

NOV 6 Warsaw Philharmonic plays Beethoven JAN 16 Itzhak Perlman at Davies MAR 13 András Schiff in Recital MAR 20 Saint Petersburg Philharmonic plays Shostakovich APR 2 Deborah Voigt and the Danish National Orchestra APR 25 Murray Perahia in Recital

GPS B Great Performers B Package SIX EVENING CONCERTS

OCT 31 Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic DEC 4 China Philharmonic and Dvořák’s

New World Symphony JAN 29 Prague Philharmonia with Gautier Capuçon MAR 19 Saint Petersburg Philharmonic plays Prokofiev MAR 26 Exquisite Violin: Anne-Sophie Mutter APR 3 The Danish National Orchestra featuring Arabella Steinbacher

The San Francisco Symphony presents the Great Performers Series, bringing orchestras and artists from across the globe to Davies Symphony Hall.

COMBO Great Performers Z Combo Package TWELVE EVENING CONCERTS

Buy all 12 concerts and get a complimentary concert ticket. Combine GPS A + B.

Presenting Sponsor

GUSTAVO DUDAMEL AND THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

“Infectious emotional energy”

T H E N E W YO R K E R

GUSTAVO DUDAMEL

Presenting Sponsor Great Performers Series

GAUTIER CAPUÇON

Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic

“The classical music world boasts only a handful of real rock stars, and the gifted and charismatic young Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is one of them.” (San Francisco Chronicle) Leading the incredible LA Philharmonic, Dudamel brings energy and fire to Tchaikovsky’s glorious Symphony No. 4.

MON OCT 31 8PM Gustavo Dudamel conductor Los Angeles Philharmonic

Andrew Norman Play Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4

Buy this concert in: GPS B

Warsaw Philharmonic plays Beethoven

Hear Yulianna Avdeeva, “an artist who can truly make the piano sing,” (Gramophone) play Beethoven’s part raucous, part meditative Piano Concerto No. 3 along with Mahler’s serene Fourth Symphony, led by conductor Jacek Kaspszyk and the Warsaw Philharmonic, one of the oldest and most prestigious orchestras of Europe.

SUN NOV 6 7PM Jacek Kaspszyk conductor Yulianna Avdeeva piano Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra

Weinberg Polish Melodies Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 Mahler Symphony No. 4

Buy this concert in: GPS A

China Philharmonic and Dvožák’s New World Symphony

Experience the China Philharmonic and conductor Yu Long, “the most powerful figure in China’s classical music scene,” (The New York Times) performing one of the most popular of all Dvořák’s symphonies, as well as Mendelssohn’s enchanting Violin Concerto with violinist Julian Rachlin, “a virtuoso with heart and a champion’s bearings.” (Los Angeles Times)

SUN DEC 4 8PM Long Yu music director and conductor Julian Rachlin violin China Philharmonic Orchestra

Qigang Chen Enchantments Oubliés Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor Dvořák Symphony No. 9, From the New World


Itzhak Perlman at DaviesMON JAN 16 8PM Itzhak Perlman violin

Rohan De Silva piano

One of the most extraordinary masters of the violin, with a spectacular 50-year career, violinist Itzhak Perlman brings his celebrated brilliance to San Francisco, for a recital of thrilling classical works.


Prague Philharmonia with Gautier Capuçon

Travel along the Moldau river and through the picturesque Czech countryside with the Prague Philharmonia in a concert featuring two of the country’s most beloved composers, Dvořák and Smetana. Plus, experience internationally renowned and “stirringly eloquent” (San Francisco Chronicle) cellist Gautier Capuçon as he performs Dvořák’s stunning Cello Concerto.

SUN JAN 29 7PM Emmanuel Villaume conductor Gautier Capuçon cello Prague Philharmonia

Smetana Vltava from Má Vlast (The Moldau) Dvořák Cello Concerto Dvořák Symphony No. 8


András Schiff in RecitalMON MAR 13 8PM Internationally acclaimed pianist

András Schiff earned “torrential waves of applause” at his last concerts at Davies (San Francisco Chronicle), and San Francisco Classical Voice calls Schiff’s recitals “among the most memorable in recent SF Symphony offerings… elegant, intimate, now playful, now dramatic, always sincere and honest.” Don’t miss your chance to see this legendary artist up close and personal in recital at Davies Symphony Hall.

Co-presented by the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Performances.


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27Subscribe 415-864-6000 SFSYMPHONY.ORG

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Great Performers Series

Music for Families PackageFOUR SATURDAY CONCERTS AT 2PM

DEC 3 Edwin Outwater conductor JAN 28 Edwin Outwater conductor

MAR 18 Christian Reif conductor

JUN 3 Christian Reif conductor

See price chart on page 19.

Recommended for ages 7 and older.

D iscover the wonders of live orchestral music at this family-

friendly concert series with members of the San Francisco Symphony.

Curated by conductor Edwin Outwater, Music for Families concerts awaken musical curiosity in new and interactive ways. Each concert has a unique theme, from exploring how music makes us feel to telling creative stories that come to life.

Ticket holders receive a free activity guide and materials to enhance musical discovery at home.

Music for FamiliesHalf price for kids!

EDWIN OUTWATER

ANNE-SOPHIE MUT TER

Presenting Sponsor Great Performers Series

DEBOR AH VOIGT

Saint Petersburg Philharmonic plays Prokofiev and Shostakovich

Experience “the crowning glory of Russian culture,” (Le Figaro) the prestigious Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, in a thrilling San Francisco engagement. These concerts feature some of Prokofiev’s most loved works, including his dark, lyrical Violin Concerto No. 2 and Shostakovich’s monumental Symphony No. 5, a complex reaction to mid-20th century Soviet politics.

SUN MAR 19 8PM Yuri Temirkanov conductor Sayaka Shoji violin Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

Prokofiev Selections from Romeo and Juliet Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 Ravel Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2


MON MAR 20 8PM Yuri Temirkanov conductor Garrick Ohlsson piano Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 Shostakovich Symphony No. 5


Exquisite Violin: Anne-Sophie Mutter

From Currier’s rhythmic tension in Clockwork to the playfully charming Introduction and Rondo capriccioso by Saint-Saëns, the violin’s expressive and technical range is put on full display in this performance featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter, the “undisputed queen of the violin.” (The Times of London)

SUN MAR 26 7PM Anne-Sophie Mutter violin Lambert Orkis piano

Sebastian Currier Clockwork Mozart Violin Sonata in A major, K.526 Respighi Violin Sonata in B minor Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo capriccioso

Co-presented by the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Performances.


Deborah Voigt and the Danish National Orchestra“Not only has her majestic voice made her fans love her,” raves The Wall Street Journal, “but so has [Voigt’s] profound feeling for texts and subtleties of musical style.” Outstanding American soprano, Deborah Voigt, joins Metropolitan Opera Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi and the Danish National Orchestra for Wagner’s lush Wesendonck Lieder. Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony closes out this powerful program.

SUN APR 2 8PM Fabio Luisi conductor Deborah Voigt soprano Danish National Orchestra

Nielsen Helios Overture Wagner Wesendonck Lieder Beethoven Symphony No. 3, Eroica


The Danish National Orchestra featuring Arabella Steinbacher

Violinist Arabella Steinbacher, Pentatone’s 2014 Artist of the Season, performs Nielsen’s beautifully sculpted Violin Concerto with the Danish National Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi on a program also featuring the virtuosic Don Juan by R. Strauss.

MON APR 3 8PM Fabio Luisi conductor Arabella Steinbacher violin Danish National Orchestra

Nielsen Violin Concerto, Opus 33 R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks) R. Strauss Don Juan


Murray Perahia in RecitalTUE APR 25 8PM Join American pianist Murray Perahia at

Davies Symphony Hall for an intimate recital. This three-time Grammy Award-winner, who was mentored by legendary pianists Horowitz and Horszowski, performs with “crispness and fire,” and is known for his “poetic, tender playing.” (The New York Times)



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28 LISTEN TO MUSIC EXCERPTS AT SFSYMPHONY.ORG

Special Family Events

Enjoy these family-friendly events that celebrate the traditions and diversity

of the Bay Area.

Día de los Muertos Community Concert

SAT NOV 5 2PMFestivities begin at 1pm

Bring the entire family to this annual family-friendly concert celebrating Latin-American music and culture for the Day of the Dead. Arrive an hour early for refreshments live music and dancing, colorful altars, traditional crafts, and more.

Upgrade your experience by purchasing the pre-concert Día de los Muertos brunch with premium tickets. Includes an evening Altar tour by the Altar Artists in the Davies Symphony Hall Lobbies. Call the Volunteer Council at 415-503-5500 for more details.

Recommended for ages 7 and older. Group discount not available.

Deck the HallSUN DEC 4 11AM

SUN DEC 4 3PM

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser conductor San Francisco Symphony

This festive concert and reception is a San Francisco holiday tradition. Enjoy a concert of holiday favorites and sing-alongs with members of the Symphony and guest artists. Join the fun post-concert celebration with refreshments, arts and crafts, and entertainment for the whole family.

To make the experience even more memorable, order a VIP package that includes premium concert seating plus an exclusive fun-filled pre-concert reception with gourmet treats, holiday crafts, games, and a photo with Santa! Call the Volunteer Council for details at 415-503-5500.

Proceeds support the Symphony’s education and community programs. Ticket exchange and discount not available.

Peter and the WolfSUN DEC 11 1PM

SUN DEC 11 4PM

Christian Reif conductor San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

Prokofiev’s timeless tale of a boy and his animal friends’ bravery is brought to life! Presented by a special guest narrator, watch and listen as the Youth Orchestra put their talent on display in this classic musical fable.

Lunar New Year Concert and Imperial Dinner

SAT FEB 4 4PMFestivities begin at 3pm

Mei-Ann Chen conductor San Francisco Symphony

Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rooster with the SF Symphony at this family event that draws on both ancient and contemporary Asian traditions. Arrive at 3pm for the activity-filled Festival Reception with Asian instruments, “lucky” red envelopes, lion dancing, and more.

Continue the festivities after the concert by purchasing a ticket to the dramatic and exciting Imperial Dinner. Call the Volunteer Council at 415-503-5500 for more details.

The Youth Orchestra Series offers a chance to enjoy the latest generation of young musicians

in the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, an ensemble that has earned international recognition. Don’t miss these concerts, performed by more than one hundred of the Bay Area’s most talented young instrumentalists.

Youth Orchestra PackageTHREE SUNDAY CONCERTS AT 2PM

NOV 20

MAR 5

MAY 14

All performances conducted by Christian Reif


Recommended for ages 12 and older.

“An astonishing display of group virtuosity”


Youth Orchestra

Presented in partnership with

May 14 supported by


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Chamber Music

Organ Concerts

Take part in the joy of chamber music, where audience members and artists

forge a connection through music and performance. These concerts provide a unique glimpse into the personalities of Symphony musicians and invite us to share in their talent and artistry as they play great masterpieces for small ensembles.

Hear the magnificent 8,264-pipe Ruffatti organ live and feel its

extraordinary power in your bones. This three-concert series presents celebrated organists and the works that fill Davies Symphony Hall with awe-inspiring sound.

Chamber Music PackageSIX SUNDAY CONCERTS AT 2PM

OCT 23

JAN 29

FEB 19

MAR 19

APR 30

MAY 28


Organ Concert PackageTHREE SUNDAY CONCERTS AT 3PM

OCT 9 Vincent Dubois FEB 26 James O’Donnell JUN 4 Wayne Marshall


E xperience the brilliance of a San Francisco Symphony

performance in the making. Listen as the conductor weaves together the themes of a symphony with the passion of the performers. This special behind-the-scenes experience begins at 8:30am with coffee and complimentary doughnuts, and a half-hour informative talk at 9am.

Open Rehearsals are working rehearsals. The pieces rehearsed are at the conductor’s discretion.

The Open Rehearsals are endowed by a bequest from the estate of Katharine Hanrahan. For information about including the SF Symphony in your estate plans, contact Gift Planning at 415-503-5482 or [email protected].

Open Rehearsal PackageEIGHT REHEARSALS AT 10AM

OCT 27 MTT conducts Brahms' Symphony No. 2 JAN 19 Mozart's Symphony No. 36 MAR 9 Beethoven and Brahms APR 19 Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff APR 27 German Romanticism: Schumann and Strauss MAY 10 Emanuel Ax plays Mozart MAY 25 Shostakovich with Matthias Goerne and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth JUN 9 Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring

Browse concerts with OPEN on pages 13–23.


Open Rehearsals

CONCERTMASTER ALEX ANDER BAR ANTSCHIK AND MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS DISCUSS THE MUSIC


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Amazing Add-ons

Popular concerts will sell out! Purchase advance tickets to these

concerts with your subscription package for the best seat at the best price.

2001: A Space OdysseyFeature film with live orchestraTHU OCT 13 8PM Experience the gripping story of a not-so-distant future in

Kubrick’s Academy Award–winning masterpiece. The stunning visuals are in perfect counterpoint with the epic score, featuring music by R. Strauss, Strauss Jr., and Ligeti.

Brad Lubman conductor San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director San Francisco Symphony

Presented in association with Warner Bros., Southbank Centre London, and the British Film Institute.

Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Simon Rattle

TUE NOV 22 8PM Boulez Éclat Mahler Symphony No. 7

WED NOV 23 8PM Schoenberg 5 Pieces for Orchestra Webern 6 Pieces for Orchestra Berg 3 Pieces for Orchestra Brahms Symphony No. 2

The Berlin Philharmonic is hailed as one of the best orchestras in the world. Hear two thrilling programs, led by eminent conductor Simon Rattle, which highlight Brahms’ joyful Symphony No. 2 and Mahler’s victorious Symphony No. 7, both superb instances of German and Austrian symphonic writing.

Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic

TUE NOV 1 8PM Mahler Symphony No. 9

Experience Gustavo Dudamel’s artistry as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. Composed after the painful loss of his young daughter, Mahler’s Ninth and final symphony is an immense mediation on mortality and a tremendous expression of his love for life.

Itzhak Perlman at DaviesMON JAN 16 8PM One of the most extraordinary

masters of the violin, with a spectacular 50-year career, Itzhak Perlman brings his celebrated brilliance to San Francisco, for a recital of thrilling classical works.

Lang Lang in RecitalTUE FEB 7 8PM Albéniz Selections from

Suite española Debussy Ballade Granados Selections from Goyescas Liszt Piano Sonata in B minor

International piano phenomenon Lang Lang brings his trademark showmanship and heartfelt artistry to Liszt’s emotionally charged Piano Sonata in B minor, considered one of the composer’s greatest works for solo piano.

RENÉE FLEMING SUSAN GR AHAM

“Exhilirating brilliance”

T H E G U A R D I A N

LANG LANG

Opening Night Gala

WED SEP 7 8PM

Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Renée Fleming soprano Susan Graham mezzo-soprano San Francisco Symphony

Steve Reich Three Movements Selection of American Songs Rossini Overture from William Tell Rossini Ballet music from William Tell Selection of Italian Songs

It’s the biggest, brightest, most glamorous party of the season! Toast sparkling wine and walk the red carpet in luxurious style—then sit back and enjoy a spectacular concert conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas featuring Renée Fleming, whose “dazzling technique and glamorous persona make her the complete package,” (St Paul Star Tribune) and “America’s favorite mezzo” (Gramophone) Susan Graham. End the night dancing to live music on the streets of San Francisco with drinks, treats, and more!

Upgrade your Opening Night Gala experience by purchasing one of four dinner package options. Call the Volunteer Council at 415-503-5500 for further details.

SIMON R AT TLE

34 LISTEN TO MUSIC EXCERPTS AT SFSYMPHONY.ORG

TICKET SALES & OTHER EARNED

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PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS

FROM SUPPORTERS

LIKE YOU

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D id you know that 60% of the Symphony’s annual costs are met by

contributions just like yours? A tax-deductible contribution to the San Francisco Symphony helps bring great music to the Bay Area, and will keep the music playing for generations to come.

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The latest releases from Michael Tilson Thomas and the 15-time Grammy Award–winning San Francisco Symphony.

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Mason Bates: Works for Orchestra

MTT and the SF Symphony release an exhilarating album of composer Mason Bates’ large-scale works for orchestra and electronica. Hear the first-ever recordings of his colossal Liquid Interface and the SFS-commissioned The B-Sides alongside his supercharged work, Alternative Energy. One of the most creative and ingenious synthesists of our time, these works show Bates reimagining the dimensions of symphonic music by integrating jazz, techno, and drum & bass.

John Adams: Absolute Jest & Grand Pianola MusicMTT and the SF Symphony join forces with America’s most-performed living composer, John Adams, in a colossal album featuring Adams’ Absolute Jest and Grand Pianola Music. Hear Adams’ inspired and witty take on Beethoven’s spirited scherzos in this first-ever recording of his SFS-commissioned Absolute Jest. Also featured is Grand Pianola Music, with its tongue-in-cheek allusions to Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, written for and premiered by the SF Symphony.

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 & Mass in C majorOwn two of the works that helped cement Beethoven’s reputation as a creative genius like none other. Internationally acclaimed pianist Emanuel Ax joins Michael Tilson Thomas and the SF Symphony in a dynamic performance of Beethoven’s robust Piano Concerto No. 3. Then, MTT leads the Grammy-winning SF Symphony Chorus and musicians in a rarely performed work: Beethoven’s Mass in C major.

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Contact theDevelopment office at 415-503-5444 or [email protected]

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MASON BATES: WORKS FOR ORCHESTRA

SA N F R A NCISCO S Y M PHON YM ICH A E L T I L SON T HOM A S

“New music as you always hoped

it would be”


“Wildly inventive, as only Adams can be”

S A N F R A N C I S C O C L A S S I C A L V O I C E

“One of the finest recent additions to the

Symphony discography”


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MTT conducts Beethoven’s Fifth

Yuja Wang with the SF Symphony

Itzhak Perlman in recital

Simon Rattle with the Berlin Philharmonic

And more!

@sfsymphony

Featured photography by Spencer Lowell and Terrence McCarthy Additional photography by Stefan Cohen and Kristen Loken

On the cover: Michael Tilson Thomas, music director

Davies Symphony Hall201 Van Ness AvenueSan Francisco, ca 94102

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