Music director says he's stepping down
Esa-Pekka Salonen cites a break with management in a surprise announcement
The San Francisco Symphony Thursday announced its 24-25 season, and with it, the stunning news that the season will be music director Esa-Pekka Salonen's last.
In a statement, the Finnish conductor, who in 2020 succeeded Michael Tilson Thomas as music director, said, “I have decided not to continue as music director of the San Francisco Symphony because I do not share the same goals for the future of the institution as the board of governors does.
“I am sincerely looking forward to the many exciting programs we have planned for my final season as music director, and am proud to continue working with the world-class musicians of the San Francisco Symphony.”
As he prepares to embark on what will be his fifth and final season, Salonen, 65, the previous music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a recent recipient of the 2024 Polar Music Prize, noted that he plans to continue his relationship with the Symphony in the form of guest appearances.
Meanwhile, the group of eight artists Salonen named as collaborative partners at the start of his tenure — composer Nicholas Britell, vocalist Julia Bullock, flutist Claire Chase, composer Bryce Dessner, violinist Pekka Kuusisto, composer Nico Muhly, AI entrepreneur Carol Riley and bassist Esperanza Spalding — will be disbanded in June. The partners collective was part of Salonen's goal to bring changes and new ideas to the orchestra and to classical music in general.
Salonen leaves an artistic legacy that is hard to neglect. Many of his programs, including semistaged performances of Stravinsky's “Oedipus Rex” in 2022, and Kaija Saariaho's “Adriana Mater” in 2023 — both directed by
Peter Sellars — were first-rate. His opening night concerts, including 2021's performance, which included works by John Adams and Wayne Shorter, featuring Spalding and Lines Ballet, were wonderfully daring. He introduced starry guests, such as the astonishing pianist Igor Levit, to the music community.
Salonen did not say what he will do next, and no specific reason was given for his departure, although reports and experts in the music community suggested that the conductor and symphony management could not agree on how to meet the widespread financial issues the
orchestra is facing, which were exacerbated by the devastating COVID-19 shutdown that brought canceled performances and loss of concert and subscription income. The overall situation has led to a decrease in performances at home and on tour and other changes.
The San Francisco Symphony, for instance, recently announced cuts to its SoundBox series, which has attracted younger audiences to experimental programs in a former rehearsal space around the corner from Davies Symphony Hall.
“Over his time as music director, Salonen has brought with him a palpable spirit of collaboration and adventure to the San Francisco Symphony that has inspired our musicians, staff, board, and audiences to think more expansively about the possibilities of the orchestral experience,” said Symphony CEO Matthew Spivey. He added, “Esa-Pekka is an unparalleled artist and visionary, and I am deeply grateful for what his creative leadership has brought to the San
Francisco Symphony. Even as we turn the page, I look forward to where the next chapter might take us.”
Spivey also told The New York Times the orchestra faced “significant financial pressures on the organization that have become impossible to ignore,” and that the Symphony needed to “respond to those pressures.”
The symphony's season announcement, meanwhile, laid out plans for the 202425 season. It features a mix of world premieres, new works and traditional repertoire, along with many appearances by guest artists.
Salonen will launch the season Sept. 10-21, conducting Verdi's “Requiem,” followed by a Sept. 25 opening night gala that features superstar pianist Lang Lang.
In what will be Salonen's final program as music director, he'll conduct the Symphony and Chorus in Mahler's Symphony No. 2 (June 12-14, 2025.) Highlights of the season include works by Thomas Adès, Gabriel Kahane and Missy Mazzoli; Salonen's Cello Concerto will receive its first San Francisco Symphony performances.
New and commissioned works are also on the season, from composers John Adams, Nico Muhly, Xavier Muzik, Gabriella Smith and Anna Thorvaldsdottir. Mahler's Symphony No.2 ends the season June 1214, 2025.
Guest conductors for the 24-25 season include Marin Alsop, Herbert Blomstedt, Giancarlo Guerrero, and Paavo Jarvi; guest soloists include mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, violinist Hilary Hahn and pianists Vikingur Ólafsson and Yuja Wang.