Michael Tilson Thomas – the 2023/24 Season

Conductor Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas’ relationship with the LSO spans over five decades – and it is a partnership that grows more rewarding every time he returns. ‘The LSO has been part of my life since I was 24 years old,’ he says. ‘The spirit of the orchestra remains much the same today.’

‘It was clear from the beginning that every concert really matters to the musicians – it has to be brilliant, it has to be something we’re really proud of. It is always a joy to be reunited and to make great music together.’

The symphonies of Gustav Mahler have been a feature of Michael Tilson Thomas’ career for decades – his recordings of the composer have won seven Grammy awards – and in May 2024 he turns his attention to the Third Symphony, a magnificent vision of a world teeming with life. ‘Mahler is an essential composer for me,’ he says. ‘I think Mahler does change the life of all those who play his music, and all those who hear it.’