San Francisco Symphony

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS), founded in 1911, is an American orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 the orchestra has been resident at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the city's Hayes Valley neighborhood. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (founded in 1981) and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus (1972) are part of the organization. Since 1995, Michael Tilson Thomas has been the orchestra's music director. Tilson Thomas is scheduled to conclude his tenure as the orchestra's music director in 2020, when Esa-Pekka Salonen is scheduled to become the orchestra's next music director. Among the orchestra's awards and honors are an Emmy Award and 15 Grammy Awards in the past 26 years.

Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony: S&M (1999)

A live Metallica concert backed by a 80 piece symphony orchestra, conducted by Michael Kamen. Two songs are debuted, "- Human" and "No Leaf Clover." A documentary is included. It also was released on audio CD.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wayne Isham
CAST:  James Hetfield  •  Kirk Hammett  •  Jason Newsted  •  Lars Ulrich

A live Metallica concert backed by a 80 piece symphony orchestra, conducted by Michael Kamen. Two songs are debuted, "- Human" and "No Leaf Clover." A documentary is included. It also was released on audio CD.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wayne Isham
CAST:  James Hetfield  •  Kirk Hammett  •  Jason Newsted  •  Lars Ulrich

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert (2001)

In 1846, Anthony Hope sails into London with the mysterious Sweeney Todd, a once-naive barber whose life and marriage was uprooted by a corrupt justice system. Todd confides in Nellie Lovett, the owner of a local meat pie shop, and the two become partners, as Todd ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lonny Price
CAST:  Patti LuPone  •  George Hearn  •  Neil Patrick Harris  •  Victoria Clark

In 1846, Anthony Hope sails into London with the mysterious Sweeney Todd, a once-naive barber whose life and marriage was uprooted by a corrupt justice system. Todd confides in Nellie Lovett, the owner of a local meat pie shop, and the two become partners, as Todd ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lonny Price
CAST:  Patti LuPone  •  George Hearn  •  Neil Patrick Harris  •  Victoria Clark

Metallica & San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 (2019)

A celebration of the 20th anniversary of Metallica’s groundbreaking S&M concerts and album recorded with the San Francisco Symphony as legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas leads a portion of the show, kicking off his final season in San Francisco. Recorded ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wayne Isham
CAST:  James Hetfield  •  Lars Ulrich  •  Kirk Hammett  •  Robert Trujillo

A celebration of the 20th anniversary of Metallica’s groundbreaking S&M concerts and album recorded with the San Francisco Symphony as legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas leads a portion of the show, kicking off his final season in San Francisco. Recorded ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wayne Isham
CAST:  James Hetfield  •  Lars Ulrich  •  Kirk Hammett  •  Robert Trujillo

Keeping Score: Beethoven's Eroica (2006)

Beethoven spent three years composing the Eroica, an intimate journal of his emotional crises and his dramatic emergence as an original master. Michael Tilson Thomas and the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony help you make sense of this voyage into life as it ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael Tilson Thomas  •  San Francisco Symphony

Beethoven spent three years composing the Eroica, an intimate journal of his emotional crises and his dramatic emergence as an original master. Michael Tilson Thomas and the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony help you make sense of this voyage into life as it ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael Tilson Thomas  •  San Francisco Symphony

Keeping Score - Mahler Origins and Legacy (2011)

Mahler's Symphony No.1 by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra including selected movements of the fifth, seventh and ninth symphonies and the complete Songs of a Wayfarer with baritone Thomas Hampson.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael Tilson Thomas  •  San Francisco Symphony

Mahler's Symphony No.1 by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra including selected movements of the fifth, seventh and ninth symphonies and the complete Songs of a Wayfarer with baritone Thomas Hampson.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael Tilson Thomas  •  San Francisco Symphony

Keeping Score: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4

How can marks on a 150‐year‐old page transform into the unflinching emotion of Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony? From decoding the score, to uncovering Tchaikovsky's history, Michael Tilson Thomas gives us a backstage pass to the making of a performance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Kennard  •  Joan Saffa
CAST:  Michael Tilson Thomas  •  San Francisco Symphony

How can marks on a 150‐year‐old page transform into the unflinching emotion of Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony? From decoding the score, to uncovering Tchaikovsky's history, Michael Tilson Thomas gives us a backstage pass to the making of a performance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Kennard  •  Joan Saffa
CAST:  Michael Tilson Thomas  •  San Francisco Symphony

Keeping Score: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony rehearse and perform Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael Tilson Thomas  •  San Francisco Symphony

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony rehearse and perform Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael Tilson Thomas  •  San Francisco Symphony