Michael Tilson Thomas, Celebrated American Conductor, Dies at 81
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Michael Tilson Thomas, renowned American conductor, composer, and pianist, passed away at 81 from glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, at his San Francisco home.
- He served as music director of the San Francisco Symphony for 25 years, earning acclaim for his collaborative approach, artistic innovation, and community involvement.
- Despite his diagnosis in 2021 and subsequent surgery, Thomas continued to conduct major performances worldwide, including opening the 2024 New York Philharmonic season with Mahler’s Fifth Symphony.
- He was also an accomplished pianist and composer, with a Grammy-winning recording of his song cycles "From the Diary of Anne Frank" and "Meditations on Rilke."
- Thomas announced the return of his tumor in early 2025 and conducted his final performance in April 2025, marking a celebrated return to San Francisco for his 80th birthday.
