California's San Fransisco Symphony announced last Thursday, March 14 that its current music director, Esa-Pekka Salonen, has resigned and will part ways with the orchestra in the following 2024 to 2025 season.
In a statement to NPR shared by the Finnish conductor's publicist, Salonen said: "I have decided not to continue as music director of the San Francisco Symphony because I do not share the same goals for the future of the institution as the Board of Governors does."
He continued by saying that, regardless of his eventual "exit" from the orchestra, he is still "looking forward" to the "many exciting programs" that were planned in the current season with his participation as a music director in mind.
He also expressed that he feels "proud" of continuing his working relationship with the SF Symphony's "world-class musicians" in his last season with the orchestra.
In the press release, SF Symphony Board Chairperson Priscilla Geeslin described Salonen's resignment as "bittersweet," saying, "This has been an exciting era for the symphony and we're so grateful for Esa-Pekka's thoughtful leadership and collaborative approach."
Esa-Pekka Salonen's Tenure at the San Francisco Symphony
The SF Symphony first welcomed Salonen in 2018 and he started his tenure proper in the 2020 to 2021 season.
His principal work included building onto the progress that his longstanding predecessor Michael Tilson Thomas had established, alongside solidifying the orchestra's notoriety as a premier organization in the American classical music space.
Salonen was also responsible for bringing together a group of diverse artistic advisors, whom include American musical composer Nico Muhly, soloist Claire Chase, and American bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding.
In terms of programming, Salonen was able to mix classical canon sensibilities with technological innovations resulting in gripping fusions that still retain the essence of classics.
However, the organization was also severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, not unlike many other institutions, and caused numerous financial challenges that the orchestra struggled with even until the recent years.
According to the New York Times, the organization reportedly lost millions of dollars in projected income amid the pandemic, alongside a steep decline in both subscriber numbers and donations even before the shutdown.
In light of this, SF Symphony had recently canceled an ongoing tour in addition of making cuts to its innovative and educational programs. This is despite amassing one of the most robust endowments in the industry, with around $315 million in 2023.
