(source: San Francisco Symphony Official Website) The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) is speaking out against the San Francisco Symphony’s management for misleading patrons about the negotiations with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Per a press release, AGMA claims that it offered a one-time reduction in compensation back in September to settle the dispute and did all it could {…}
(source: San Francisco Symphony Official Website) UPDATE: “For background, on the evening of September 16, AGMA leadership and the AGMA members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The Choristers voted 100% in favor of the authorization. 98.1% of eligible members participated in the vote, and 81.1% of the unpaid singers from the Verdi Requiem Chorus have {…}
Vance George, Chorus Director Emeritus of the San Francisco Symphony, has written an open letter to Matt Spivey, the CEO of the ensemble, in response to proposed chorus budget cuts. In his letter, George, who served as conductor of the Chorus for 23 years and accepted two Grammy Awards and one Emmy Award on behalf of the ensemble, noted that {…}
The San Francisco Symphony management has proposed an 80 percent cut from the San Francisco Symphony Chorus’ budget. In a letter published by AGMA, the chorus recounts why the cut is the wrong approach noting that its budget is only over one percent of the overall budget and is vital in attracting audiences and donors. The letter noted, “Ticket sales {…}
In light of the recent announcement regarding Esa-Pekka’s decision to conclude his tenure as Music Director following the culmination of his five-year contract in June 2025, CEO Matthew Spivey and Board Chair Priscilla Geeslin have released a statement regarding the orchestra. In a statement, the orchestra said, “In recent years, we have strived to be as transparent as possible about {…}
Following Esa-Pekka Salonen’s announcement that he was leaving the San Francisco Symphony next season, Musicians of the San Francisco Symphony have released an open letter urging the Board of Governors to take steps to retain Salonen as Music Director and to reverse planned cuts to programming, touring, and education, which threaten the Symphony’s status as a world-class institution. The Musicians {…}
The San Francisco Symphony has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. Joe Hisaishi conducts a concert of music from the films of Hayao Miyazaki. The concert will feature the participation of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Performance Dates: Sept. 5 – 8, 2024 Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Verdi’s Requiem with Leah Hawkins, Karen Cargill, {…}
(source: San Francisco Symphony Official Website) The musicians and management of the San Francisco Symphony have ratified a two-year contract. The contract was ratified on Oct. 1, 2023, ending a labor struggle that began in November 2022 and since then teh San Francisco Symphony has been working without a contract. The new contract extends through November 2024. In a statement {…}
The San Francisco Symphony has announced its 2023-24 season. For this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. It all kicks off with a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. Soloists include Dashon Burton, Ben Bliss, and Tamara Mumford. The program also features Olly Wilson’s “Shango Memory.” Performance Dates: Oct. 19 – 22, {…}
The San Francisco Symphony is set to present Stravinsky’s “Oedipus Rex” and “Symphony of Psalms” on June 10-12, 2022. The showcase will be conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen and staged by Peter Sellars, in the first of a four-year collaboration during which the director will mount four large-scale productions between 2022-25. “This particular combination of two major Stravinsky pieces premiered in {…}
The San Francisco Symphony has announced its 2022-23 season and will feature numerous vocal performances. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. Golda Schultz and Michelle DeYoung will perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting. A work by Trevor Weston will have its world premiere. Performance Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2022 Esa-Pekka Salonen {…}