Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas announced Wednesday that he will step down as artistic director of the New World Symphony, a prestigious training orchestra for young artists in Miami that he helped discover as it fights an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Saying he was “taking stock of my life,” Thomas, 77, a former music director at the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, said he was reducing his administrative duties to focus on his health.
“Now I see that it is time to consider what level of work and responsibilities I can withstand in the future,” he said in a statement.
In a statement, Thomas provided details of his condition, which he announced last summer when he canceled a series of commitments. He said he had glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer; underwent surgery last year to remove the tumor; and has also received chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
“Cancer is currently under control,” he said. “But the future is uncertain, as glioblastoma is a hidden adversary. Repeating it, unfortunately, is the rule rather than the exception. “
The New World Symphony, where Thomas will remain Artistic Director, praised the “genius of his vision and the strength of his leadership” in a statement in which board chairman Will Osborne said: “We are honored to have his continued presence and participation. . “
Thomas said he plans to continue conducting in the United States and Europe. He is scheduled to give more than two dozen concerts in the coming months, including with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. He is due in Miami on May 6 and 7 to lead the New World Symphony at Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, one of his majors.
After his operation, Thomas has given 20 concerts, performing with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic. The audience greeted him with a standing ovation and he looked relatively energetic.
“I will continue to compose, write and reflect on your and my thoughts,” Thomas said in a statement. “I plan to spend more time wondering, wandering, cooking and spending time with loved ones – two-legged and four-legged. Life is precious. ”