Esa-Pekka Salonen’s final four shows as Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony will be performed at Davies Symphony Hall in May and June…Explore these four signature Salonen programs below as well as some images from Salonen’s time as Music Director for the San Francisco Symphony.
Salonen Conducts The Firebird May 23, 24 & 25, 2025; Davies Symphony Hall
With the wildly successful premiere of The Firebird, the career of a musical renegade was launched: Igor Stravinsky. The Firebird still retains the power to shock and enthrall into its second century. Kicking off the program is the 2002 orchestral piece Chorale—based on the familiar Bach chorale “Es ist genug”—from Magnus Lindberg. Alban Berg’s last completed score and probably his most famous, the Violin Concerto, rounds out the performance. Get tickets here!
Artists: Esa-Pekka Salonen Conductor Isabelle Faust Violin San Francisco Symphony
Program Magnus Lindberg: Chorale (First San Francisco Symphony Performances) Alban Berg: Violin Concerto Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird
Esa-Pekka Salonen & Hilary Hahn May 29 & 30, June 01, 2025: Davies Symphony Hall
An all-Beethoven program! First, Hilary Hahn performs the Violin Concerto, a cornerstone of the violin repertoire and a powerful and lyrical work that transcends the typical concerto format. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 isn’t performed as often as his other symphonies, but it’s every bit as mesmerizing…the Fourth might be Beethoven's most underrated symphony. Get tickets here!
Artists: Esa-Pekka Salonen Conductor Hilary Hahn Violin San Francisco Symphony
Program: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Salonen Conducts Sibelius 7 June 06, 07 & 08, 2025: Davies Symphony Hall
Jean Sibelius’s final symphony, the Seventh, a single-movement work, is often described as a powerful, concise, and emotionally charged journey. This groundbreaking work pushes the boundaries of symphonic form and explores new expressive possibilities. Bookended by two spectacular Richard Strauss tone poems is the SF Symphony’s first commission from Gabriella Smith, reflecting her passion for climate action. Get tickets here!
Artists: Esa-Pekka Salonen Conductor San Francisco Symphony
Program: Richard Strauss: Don Juan Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 Gabriella Smith: New work (San Francisco Symphony Commission and World Premiere) Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
Salonen Conducts Mahler 2 June 12, 13 & 14, 2025: Davies Symphony Hall
In his final concerts as San Francisco Symphony Music Director, Esa-Pekka Salonen leads Mahler’s Second Symphony—an SF Symphony staple. The Resurrection still matters because it moves us, and it moves us because it grapples with the Big Questions: Do our lives matter? Why must we suffer? Will we be healed? Reinforcing this theme of spiritual transcendence, Mahler wrote his own text for the finale: “Rise again…What you have conquered, will bear you to God!” Get tickets here!
Artists: Esa-Pekka Salonen Conductor Heidi Stober Soprano Sasha Cooke Mezzo-soprano San Francisco Symphony Chorus Jenny Wong Director, San Francisco Symphony Chorus San Francisco Symphony
Program: Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2
Here are some more IMAGES to Celebrate Esa-Pekka Salonen!
Drew Altizer Photography
San Francisco Symphony Re-Opening Night Gala 10/1/21
Drew Altizer Photography
Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the SF Symphony in the Re-Opening Night Concert featuring Esperanza Spalding, a jazz trio, and dancers from Alonzo King LINES Ballet 10/1/21
Kristen Loken
Behind the scenes during filming of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Soundbox Program (#2) 12/18/20
Britney Hosea-Small
Adriana Mater 6/8/23
Stefan Cohen
The SF Symphony and Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen perform a program including the world premiere of “Push” by Emerging Black Composers winner Trevor Weston 9/29/22
Brandon Patoc
Pianist Igor Levit, the SF Symphony’s Artist in Residence for the ’22-’23 Season, joins Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Orchestra, and the SF Symphony Chorus for Ferruccio Busoni’s Piano Concerto 6/22/23
