Yes, Various People Did See This Coming, SFS/MGT Edition

An informal note from the San Francisco Symphony conveys the following news to the ink-stained wretches:

.....At this time, we can confirm that Mirga Gražinyté-Tyla has had to postpone her debut with the San Francisco Symphony (scheduled for April 30-May 2, 2020) due to maternity/family leave following the birth of her child.

That MGT was canceling two years of guest conducting contracts has already been in the news, and I can confirm that there has been talk about her scheduled SFS appearance among my friends, at least.

Let me speculate about the replacement: it'll be James Gaffigan, who leads the program immediately after MGT's, and who just happens to be in town this week if anyone at SFS wants to chat with him.

Or maybe Esa-Pekka Salonen would like to take this program, as he did this past January when MGT withdrew. His schedule for 2019-20 isn't posted yet on his web site, but that week the Philharmonia is being conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado, so maybe Salonen is available. For obvious reasons he might be the first conductor to get offered the concert.

Performers have a total right to decide what schedule is best for them and their families, and they are going to come to different conclusions. I hope we'll see MGT in SF at some point.