In This Program
- Welcome
- New Releases on Apple Music Classical
- 30 (or so) Highlights We Can’t Wait to Hear Next Season
- Community Connections
- Print Edition
San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
Welcome
Welcome to Summer with the Symphony
We’re thrilled to share a vibrant season packed with exciting performances, unforgettable guest artists, and favorite films with live orchestra.
Summer at Davies Symphony Hall kicks off with the drama and passion of Tchaikovsky, in a program conducted by Stephanie Childress with violinist Blake Pouliot. Our classical offerings also include an energetic evening featuring Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, alongside genre-bending string trio Time for Three performing Mason Bates’s electrifying Silicon Hymnal—a San Francisco Symphony commission.
Film lovers, we’ve got you covered with spectacular live-to-picture presentations. Fly with dragons in the animated classic How to Train Your Dragon and relive the magic of The Princess Bride. Experience some of Hans Zimmer’s greatest scores—from The Lion King to Inception—in a concert led by Sarah Hicks.
There’s more: Morgan Freeman brings his storytelling magic to Symphonic Blues Experience, a journey through the soul of Delta Blues. Dolly Parton lights up the screen (and the Symphony) with Threads: My Songs in Symphony, a heartfelt evening of music and memories.
The Orchestra also takes two programs to Stanford University’s beautiful Frost Amphitheater, marking our sixth season there.
Thank you for joining us for Summer with the Symphony. We can’t wait to share the music, the memories, and the magic with you!
New Releases on Apple Music Classical
News & Notes
The San Francisco Symphony announces the release of four new digital-only spatial audio recordings from SFS Media, available exclusively via the Apple Music Classical app. The first of these, released in May, is a recording of Sibelius’s Finlandia, captured in a performance led by Esa-Pekka Salonen from March 2024. Following in July is Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements, recorded by Salonen and the Symphony in November 2023. Upcoming releases include Salonen-led recordings of Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 (August 15) and Salonen’s Cello Concerto (release date to be announced), with Rainer Eudeikis, SF Symphony Principal Cello and Philip S. Boone Chair, as soloist.
Also of note: Salonen and the Symphony’s Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho’s opera Adriana Mater is now available as a Deutsche Grammophon CD release.
30 (or so) Highlights We Can’t Wait to Hear Next Season
Ready for your next San Francisco Symphony concert?
Here’s a handy preview of what to expect in the 2025–26 season.
Tchaikovsky and Mozart: Odd Couple or Perfect Pairing?
Of Mozart, Tchaikovsky once said, “I don’t just like Mozart, I idolize him.” Next season, music lovers get a generous helping of both. September and October are rich with Tchaikovsky: Yuja Wang kicks off the new season with the Piano Concerto No. 1, Gustavo Gimeno conducts the fate-filled Fifth Symphony, and Sergey Khachatryan essays the Violin Concerto with debuting conductor David Afkham. In May, Dima Slobodeniouk conducts the Fourth Symphony, a work that juggles joy and tragedy.
As for Mozart, Tchaikovsky would be pleased. Emanuel Ax and Jan Lisiecki perform Mozart’s piano concertos; Harry Bicket leads an all-Mozart program with the bewitching Prague Symphony and opera arias sung by soprano Golda Schultz; and conductor Manfred Honeck offers a theatrical take on the Requiem, complete with dramatic readings and additional works by Mozart.
Hometown Heroes
Several San Francisco Symphony musicians step into the spotlight as soloists next season. Principal Trombone Timothy Higgins does double duty: premiering Shift, a new trombone concerto by Jimmy López, and debuting his own Market Street, 1920s. Higgins’s compatriot in the brass section, Principal Trumpet Mark Inouye, takes a featured role in Shostakovich’s sprightly Piano Concerto No. 1, with pianist Seong-Jin Cho. Principal Flute Yubeen Kim makes his Symphony solo debut in two programs: Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 this fall, alongside violinist/leader Alexi Kenney, and Ibert’s riveting, rarely heard Flute Concerto in the spring, conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk. The SF Symphony Chorus also shines in Bach’s Easter Oratorio and in a spring concert conducted by Chorus Director Jenny Wong.
Youth or Experience? Why Not Both?
Whether you prize seasoned mastery or are drawn to rising-star energy, 2025–26 delivers. At 98, San Francisco Symphony Conductor Laureate Herbert Blomstedt returns to lead Mahler’s massive Ninth Symphony, a 90-minute journey of catharsis and complexity. If a “fire-breathing virtuoso” is more your speed, French pianist Alexandre Kantorow makes his San Francisco Symphony debut performing Prokofiev’s fiendishly difficult Third Piano Concerto. The 27-year-old Tchaikovsky Competition winner turned heads performing Ravel’s Jeux d’eau in the rain-soaked opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics last summer. For more breakout talent, check out the Shenson Spotlight Series of four intimate debut recitals.
Legends in the Building…With a Twist
The Great Performers Series lives up to its name with hotly anticipated concerts by renowned artists and ensembles. Violin legends Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell each appear twice—Perlman in recital and as conductor/soloist with the full orchestra; Bell in his annual visit with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and in recital. Looking for something out of the box? Try violinist Nicola Benedetti in a recital with guitarist Plínio Fernandes, accordionist Hanzhi Wang, and cellist Adrian Daurov, or cellist Gautier Capuçon performing a full evening of newly commissioned works—17 in all—from composers including Joe Hisaishi, Bryce Dessner, and Max Richter.
We’re Gonna Need a Bigger…Stage?
The Symphony’s film series pairs your favorite movies with the power of a live orchestra. It’s a rich season for fantasy and adventure fans: Superheroes assemble in the action-packed Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga Concert Experience; Frodo and Sam complete their journey in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King; and lovable rogue Jack Sparrow sets sail in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Last season’s unconventional Disney–Hitchcock Halloween double bill was a hit, and this year Coco and Vertigo return to cast their spells. The balletic martial arts classic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon makes its San Francisco Symphony debut and Barbie the Movie adds bubblegum charm to Thanksgiving weekend. And stay tuned for Holidays with the Symphony, full of festive films perfect for the season.
The Pipes Are Calling
Want to hear Davies Symphony Hall’s Ruffatti Organ in full flight? Organist Olivier Latry is on the bench for two powerhouses of the French symphonic organ tradition—Poulenc’s Organ Concerto and Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony—conducted by Stéphane Denève. See if you can spot the organ in other concerts this season, like Holst’s The Planets with conductor Edward Gardner.
Symphony in the Stacks
Picture this: You’re heading to your neighborhood library to pick up a beach read—and you’re met by the sweet sounds of a live string duo performing just inside. Through the Community Chamber Concert series, small ensembles of San Francisco Symphony musicians bring free live music to San Francisco Public Library branches (19 and counting!) and other venues across the city. It’s a great way to connect with Symphony musicians up close in familiar, welcoming settings. And with a Bay Area library card, you can also access free tickets to select Symphony concerts through the Discover & Go program. Visit sfsymphony.org/CommunityChamber for more information.
Community Connections
Japanese Community Youth Council
For over half a century, the Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC) has transformed lives across San Francisco. What began as a grassroots effort to support Japanese American youth has evolved into one of the city’s most impactful nonprofit organizations—now serving more than 7,000 young people from all backgrounds each year.
JCYC’s mission is rooted in equity, opportunity, and empowerment. From preschool to college and into the workforce, JCYC provides critical programs that help youth navigate their academic and professional journeys. JCYC introduces high school students to real-world career paths, offering mentorship, job exposure, and the skills they need to succeed.
Whether helping a student apply for college, preparing a teen for their first job interview, or offering leadership development opportunities, JCYC is a trusted guide and champion for San Francisco’s children and youth.
Get involved. Support the mission. Invest in the future.
Learn more at jcyc.org and jcycworkhub.org.
Print Edition
