Esa-Pekka Salonen’s shocking announcement that he is leaving the S.F. Symphony comes as the orchestra is dealing with financial challenges.
San Francisco Symphony music director Esa-Pekka Salonen has announced he is leaving the symphony at the end of his contract in June.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.
Salonen leaves an artistic legacy that is hard to neglect. Many of his programs, including semi-staged 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 Esperanza Spalding and Lines Ballet, were wonderfully daring.
“Over his time as Music Director, Esa-Pekka 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.
In what will be Salonen’s final program as Music Director, he’ll conduct the Symphony and Chorus in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 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, pianists Vikingur Ólafsson and Yuja Wang.
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