After getting brain surgery, Michael Tilson Thomas takes time off from performing.
Michael Tilson Thomas, the longtime former music director of the San Francisco Symphony, was diagnosed late last month with a brain tumor that required an immediate operation. The surgery, which took place during the last week of July at UCSF Medical Center, was successful, the orchestra announced on Friday, Aug. 6.
Thomas, 76, will now embark on a monthslong course of therapy and has canceled all his public appearances through the end of October.
“Michael continues to be the witty, sharptongued, affectionate and brilliant person I’ve known all his life,” Thomas’ husband, Joshua Robison,
told The Chronicle. “But he is now looking at life from a new perspective, and looking at time in a much different way.
“We are very happy to be in San Francisco, and to feel the love and support of this community.”
The announcement from the Symphony said that Thomas is under the care of the UCSF medical team, which is “continuing to explore all possible options for treatment.”
Thomas stepped down at the end of the 201920 season after 25 years as music director, taking the title of music director laureate. His first appearances in San Francisco, beginning Nov. 12, are still on the books.
Thomas has, however, withdrawn from scheduled performances with the New World Symphony, the Miami training orchestra that he founded and directed, as well as the National Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
“I deeply regret missing projects that I was greatly anticipating,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing everyone again in November.”