A reader informs us:
I have read a few posts regarding the San Francisco Symphony, which I attend regularly. There are problems. Despite the musicians passing out leaflets in front of the hall prior to concerts and the audience members shouting ‘don’t go’ when he walks on stage, we have lost Salonen.
The 2025-2026 season program was assembled like a ‘Top Hits of Classical Music’ channel on Spotify, compared to Salonen’s thoughtful and educational programing. Next season seems like it is just an embarrassment of riches with no purpose other than to get audiences to fill the seats to hear the next blockbuster. I started off as a musician and am now in the business world, and having served on various Boards understand how Management thinks. One picture would suffice.
Last week I attended a concert with a star soloist in an all-Beethoven program. The prior month I attended a concert that I had been excited about for a whole year, featuring Modern Latin and American Classical Music. The all-Beethoven program was sold out, with surge price tickets going for 350 dollars. Here (attached) is a photo of the Latin and American Classical Music concert after intermission, right before the conductor is to walk on stage. No wonder the symphony management has decided to ditch the intelligent programs and go with the orgy of Classical excess next year.
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