Michael Tilson Thomas confirms upcoming performances marking his retirement, following the reoccurrence of a brain tumor.
Michael Tilson-Thomas Bids Farewell to Conducting After Brain Tumor Return
Michael Tilson-Thomas, the 12-time Grammy Award-winning conductor, has announced his final performances following the return of his glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain tumor.
The American conductor, who turned 80 on April 26th, led the San Francisco Symphony in his final scheduled conducting performance earlier in 2025. This marked the end of his active conducting career, as he steps back from the podium due to health reasons.
Tilson-Thomas shared the news of his retirement on his website, using the term "It's a wrap" and "coda" to describe the end of his career. He has spent 25 years as music director of the San Francisco Symphony before becoming music director laureate in 2020.
Despite his health challenges, music continues to fill Tilson-Thomas's home in San Francisco, where he resides with his husband, Joshua. The conductor has enjoyed a close relationship with the London Symphony Orchestra since 1988 and has concerts planned with the New World Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony for March and April 25th respectively.
Tilson-Thomas is known for his invigorating performances of contemporary American works from Aaron Copland to Steve Reich. In his update, he mentions that he has undergone a second operation and managed complications from treatments. Treatment options are being considered, but the odds are uncertain.
The San Francisco Symphony is celebrating Tilson-Thomas's 80th birthday on April 26th, with a gala event honoring him. The statement mentions that Tilson-Thomas had the opportunity to come full circle with musicians and orchestras he holds most dear during the past year. The statement suggests that Tilson-Thomas's life's coda is generous and rich.
Tilson-Thomas was initially diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2021. The latest update on his health condition has not been provided since his final performance. The conductor is well-known for his work with the San Francisco Symphony, the New World Symphony, and the London Symphony Orchestra, and his legacy in the world of classical music will continue to be felt for years to come.
- Michael Tilson-Thomas, a classical music maestro, has announced that his retirement follows the return of his glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor, signaling an end to his active conducting career in the realm of health-and-wellness.
- Simultaneously, Tilson-Thomas's abode in San Francisco, echoes with the melodies of classical music, as he navigates his fitness-and-exercise routines, amidst his health challenges.
- In his stride towards retirement, the esteemed conductor also expresses interest in engaging with aspects of entertainment, mentioning concerts planned with the New World Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony in the coming months.
- As mental health concerns become increasingly crucial in an aging society, Tilson-Thomas's decision to step back from conducting serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility and resilience inherent in the human experience.
