Uhhhhh, what?

Davies Symphony Hall

October, 2023

Photo by Lisa Hirsch

A few weeks ago, Thomas Adès withdrew from his planned February concerts at SF Symphony and SFSoundBox. At the time, the orchestra announced that there would be an announcement about replacements for February 15-16 and 18.

Now we've got the announcement that they're just cancelling. Ticketholders can do one of the following:

• Exchange the tickets for another concert.
• Exchange tickets for a San Francisco Symphony gift certificate, which can be used at any time.
• Donate tickets and receive a tax deduction for the total ticket value. 
• Receive a refund for the value of the tickets.

Color me befuddled. With more than four months notice, the orchestra was unable to find a conductor who could turn up for the rehearsal period and performance period with a program that would be within the means of a great professional orchestra? Really? Truly? There was no one available? 

The orchestra hasn't currently got an associate/assistant conductor, but it does have Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser (resident conductor of engagement and education), Daniel Stewart (music director of the youth orchestra), and Jenny Wong (chorus director), all of whom are competent to lead the orchestra in a range of repertory. (It's possible that Wong has a conflict with the L.A. Master Chorale, of course.) And I find it unbelievable that of the dozens of good to great conductors in the world, no one could conduct SFS that week. Not to mention, bring in the right soloist and you can sell out the hall. I see that Yuja Wang, for example, seems to be free from February 10 to sometime in March.

I'll just assume that this is a money-saving decision.

Okay, okay; in the press release, but not the customer announcement: "Alternate programming for this week will be announced at a later date."