My first conversation with Michael Tilson Thomas was in a backstage corridor weeks after he arrived as the new music director of the San Francisco Symphony in 1995. I’d been hired the previous year by maestro Herbert Blomstedt, a venerable old-school conductor who kept a formal distance.
I tentatively approached Michael to introduce myself, not sure if he had noticed me sitting in the back of the cello section. With an outstretched hand and a huge smile, he beamed, “Hey Barb, how ya doin’?” — I knew this was the start of a new era.
In reflecting on his recent passing, I find that I’m inspired by MTT’s irrepressible buoyancy and immense gratitude for life.
I’m reminded of Leonard Bernstein’s song, “Some Other Time” from the musical On the Town, which MTT conducted during his first season with SFS. The lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green sang with the cast. It was a memorably challenging time in my symphonic career because, at eight months pregnant, I could barely reach my arms around to play the cello.
“Where has the time all gone to?
Haven't done half the things we want to
Oh well, we'll catch up some other time”
When the song was reprised on April 26, 2025, for his 80th Birthday Celebration Concert, MTT sang with full-throated joy in what was to be his final time conducting.
“Just when the fun is starting
Comes the time for parting
Let's be glad for what we’ve had, and what’s to come…”
Though he had survived, and even thrived, years longer than anyone could have predicted following his brain cancer diagnosis, time and illness appeared to be catching up with Michael at this concert — during rehearsals, he had difficulty getting on and off the podium, with flagging energy. And yet when it came time for the performance he was all there, musical memory and natural brilliance shining brightly.
How lucky I was to have played all twenty-five of his years with SFS, learning so much about music and how to be a contributing member of an orchestra.
MTT generously mentored many musicians. I had my own “mentor moment” with him when I was beginning my side-career as a writer. I called MTT to get an exclusive interview about Bernstein for Lenny’s Centennial. I carefully planned my questions, hoping to score a real scoop. Michael answered a few then stopped short and stated unequivocally, “Wait…. you shouldn’t write about what I think of Lenny. You were lucky to play under him conducting. You should mine that experience for the jewels he gave you and write about that.” Wow.
Over the years I’ve seen so many jewels glow from the strands of creativity surrounding Michael — his encouragement for musicians to be fully present in the moment of performance, his belief in listening deeply to what the composer is saying. And this defining quote:
When I play a piece of music, the thing that is the most interesting to me about it is what happens when the music stops? When the music ends, what do we have then? Something that carries on inside of us that makes us different people. That’s the great fascination in music and that continues to be the beautiful mystery it carries forward.
My final encounter with MTT happened at his home a few weeks before his death. He didn’t say much, but greeted me with a quiet “Hey, Barb”— and that was enough.
“Just when the fun’s beginning
Comes the final inning
Oh well, we’ll catch up some other time.”
