Michael Tilson Thomas Quotes

A collection of quotes by Michael Tilson Thomas.

Michael Tilson Thomas is a renowned American conductor, composer, and pianist. He was born on December 21, 1944, in Los Angeles, California. From a young age, Thomas displayed exceptional musical talent and began studying piano at the University of Southern California before continuing his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Thomas rose to prominence as a conductor in the late 1960s and early 1970s through his work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He became the Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony in 1995 and held this position for an impressive 25 years until 2020 when he retired.

Throughout his career, Thomas has been celebrated for his innovative programming and interpretation of a wide range of musical genres. He has also been highly regarded for his championing of contemporary music and his collaborations with numerous living composers.

Aside from his conducting career, Thomas has composed numerous works of his own and has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including 11 Grammy Awards. He is a sought-after guest conductor and has worked with leading orchestras around the world.

Michael Tilson Thomas has made significant contributions to the classical music world, both as a conductor and composer, leaving an indelible mark on the industry through his inspiring interpretations and commitment to pushing musical boundaries.

Earlier in my life, I performed a lot of music. Some of it b

Earlier in my life, I performed a lot of music. Some of it because I felt it was a demonstration, or a representation of certain intellectual concepts that were very exciting and important.

Michael Tilson Thomas

Life Music

They are representations of many shared hours of collaborati

They are representations of many shared hours of collaboration between us all. That's the real nature of the relationship the orchestra and I are trying to build.

Michael Tilson Thomas

Relationship

But those musics do not address the larger kind of architect

But those musics do not address the larger kind of architecture in time that classical music does, whatever each one of us knows that classical music must mean.

Michael Tilson Thomas

Architecture

The first year I started in San Francisco, there was an Amer

The first year I started in San Francisco, there was an American work on every program and there's been a lot of music by living composers and gradually that was part of the process of getting the audience really to trust me.

Michael Tilson Thomas

Trust

But if I can be convinced and then through the work that we

But if I can be convinced and then through the work that we do together, the orchestra can really be convinced of the big sweep of that communication that the piece suggests, then the audience will get it and it will be a good experience for all of us.

Michael Tilson Thomas

Communication