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The San Francisco Symphony stunned the music world Wednesday, Dec. 5, naming Esa-Pekka Salonen, the renowned composer and conductor, as its next music director — and the world was, well, stunned. And impressed. And excited. And the reactions on Twitter bore that out.
“As big news as when Kevin Durant joined the Warriors or LeBron went to the Lakers,” tweeted the award-winning concert pianist Phillip Bush, who’s associate professor at the University of South Carolina’s School of Music.
As big news as when Kevin Durant joined the Warriors or LeBron went to the Lakers. Saving up my $ for a cross-country trip or two to witness some of this disruption! San Francisco Symphony Lands a Disrupter: Esa-Pekka Salonen https://t.co/hmya0G9Iom
— Phillip Bush (@PhillipBush) December 6, 2018
Salonen will officially join the symphony in September 2020, replacing Michael Tilson Thomas, who’s stepping down after after an epic 25-year career at Davies Symphony Hall.
And no one seemed happier than Tilson Thomas himself, who tweeted, “Happy that my friend and colleague @esapekkasalonen is coming to #SanFrancisco. Our lives have been personally & musically intertwined for years & we share many musical values. Will be a joy to collaborate w/ him on bright future for @SFSymphony family.”
Happy that my friend & colleague @esapekkasalonen is coming to #SanFrancisco. Our lives have been personally & musically intertwined for years & we share many musical values. Will be a joy to collaborate w/ him on bright future for @SFSymphony family. Warm welcome to EPS from MTT pic.twitter.com/LbfjJpiPaq
— M. Tilson Thomas (@mtilsonthomas) December 5, 2018
Another commentator chiming in was Jari Kallio, the blogger behind the European classical music blog, Adventures in Music: “Congratulations @SFSymphony & @esapekkasalonen!!! Fascinating times ahead!! Must start booking HEL-SFO flights…”
Congratulations @SFSymphony & @esapekkasalonen!!! 👏🏼💐 Fascinating times ahead!! Must start booking HEL-SFO flights…🛫🎶 https://t.co/VfCwMw9nG6
— Jari Kallio (@KalliJari) December 5, 2018
Many of the reactions noted Salonen’s acclaim as a musician and musical interpreter as well as his commitment to bringing innovation to classical music, as orchestras around the world adjust to changes in music and how people listen to it.
“I’m excited to see where the @SFSymphony reimagines orchestral music!” said Bay Area tech entrepreneur Adam Wealand. “Welcome to SF @esapekkasalonen, leave your snow boots in Finland!”
I'm excited to see where the @SFSymphony reimagines orchestral music! Welcome to SF @esapekkasalonen, leave your snow boots in Finland! " Esa-Pekka Salonen, future music director of the San Francisco Symphony…. https://t.co/cgxnfHjr7J @latimes
— Adam Wealand (@awealand) December 5, 2018
“This move solidifies the West Coast’s position as the center of American orchestral experimentation,” the New York Times’ @nytimesarts tweeted.
This move solidifies the West Coast’s position as the center of American orchestral experimentation https://t.co/WdrgBTXNSm
— New York Times Arts (@nytimesarts) December 6, 2018
And the New Yorker chimed in that the move could forge new ties between the classical and tech worlds: “To date, the tech sector has shown little interest in supporting the performing arts. If anyone can turn that trend around, it is Esa-Pekka Salonen, the new music director of the San Francisco Symphony.”
To date, the tech sector has shown little interest in supporting the performing arts. If anyone can turn that trend around, it is Esa-Pekka Salonen, the next music director of the San Francisco Symphony: https://t.co/co90JhFVzs pic.twitter.com/G45PPtEA8l
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) December 5, 2018
The Salonen news, said one commentator, @alicia, “is pretty much the only thing that could make me care about the symphony, well done team.”
🚨🚨Esa-Pekka Salonen is taking over the SF Symphony🚨🚨
This is pretty much the only thing that could make me care about the symphony, well done team.
— alicia (@alicia) December 5, 2018
