Michael Tilson Thomas
American conductor, composer and pianist Michael Tilson Thomas was born in Los Angeles on 21 December 1944. He studied at the University of Southern California and was musical assistant and assistant conductor to Friedelind Wagner at the Bayreuth Festival.
Working with many orchestras including the American orchestral academy The New World Symphony, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra, he has championed modern American music and the music of Mahler, and has devoted much energy to music education.
Tilson Thomas announced in March 2022 that he was stepping down as artistic director of the New World Symphony academy, because he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma multifome - an aggressive type of brain cancer.
A selection of articles about Michael Tilson Thomas
The Magnanimity of Michael Tilson Thomas - Jeffrey Neil reflects on a performance of Beethoven's Choral Symphony
Classical music news. August 2023 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our August 2023 one hour video newsletter - The Creative Spark
Ensemble. Unique and Moving - Mahler's Fifth Symphony - a self-metamorphosis from grief to ecstatic energy, by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Performance to Cherish - Lawrence Budmen submits a further report from the Tanglewood Festival 2010
CD Spotlight. Transcendent Resignation - Mahler's Ninth Symphony, heard by David Wilkins. '... played with love and knowledge and commitment ...'
Ensemble. Thoughtfully Conceived - James Judd conducts Handel's 'Messiah', reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Incisive Performance - Lawrence Budmen reports from the New World Symphony's new season
Timings - Universal Edition's preparations for the Mahler Centenary years (2010-2011), by Jennifer Paull
Ensemble. Lightness and Transparency - New World Symphony, the American orchestral academy, ends its season with an all-Tchaikovsky programme, reported by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. A Heavenly Blend - Joshua Habermann conducts the Master Chorale of South Florida, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Inspired Vision - Mendelssohn's 'Elijah', reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Energy and Style - A concert by the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. A musical homecoming - New World Symphony alumni return to Miami Beach for a special concert, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Glistening quality - Christian Tetzlaff plays Brahms, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Music - a short story by Elizabeth Dobbs
Monk and Mahler - Lawrence Budmen reviews Tilson Thomas performances in Miami