Name: Gaffigan Conducts Beethoven 9
Start: 2026-06-21T14:00:00
Location: Davies Symphony Hall

The San Francisco Symphony presents a series of exceptional events at the Davies Symphony Hall that bring together cinematic and orchestral grandeur. From the epic adventures of 'The Lord of the Rings' to the profound spiritual explorations of Mahler's Second Symphony and the timeless beauty of Mozart’s Requiem, these events promise to captivate audiences with stunning performances and thought-provoking compositions. Join us as we delve into the details of these remarkable performances, highlighting their unique contributions to the cultural tapestry of San Francisco.

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As the San Francisco Symphony unveils its 2025-2026 season, music enthusiasts can expect a journey across time and emotion. Featuring orchestral marvels like Mahler's Second Symphony, Verdi's powerful Requiem, and Beethoven's Ninth, the events explore profound themes of existence, redemption, and unity. With celebrated conductors and a lineup of stellar soloists, this season promises to be an unforgettable exploration of humanity's most pressing questions through the universal language of music.

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The San Francisco Symphony's upcoming 2025-2026 season promises a rich tapestry of performances that celebrate the timeless beauty of classical music. From the evocative strains of Handel’s 'Messiah' to the celestial voyages of Holst's 'The Planets,' audiences will be treated to an array of musical artistry conducted by renowned maestros. This season's lineup includes interpretations of Mozart's poignant 'Requiem,' Beethoven's transformative Ninth Symphony, and even live score performances of beloved films. Join us as we delve into the highlights of a season that bridges tradition with artistic exploration.

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The San Francisco Symphony is set to present an extraordinary series of concerts at the renowned Davies Symphony Hall. Featuring a vibrant mix of classical orchestral works and film scores, the events promise an immersive experience for enthusiasts and newcomers alike. From Manfred Honeck's theatrical rendition of Mozart's Requiem to Bernard Labadie's premiere of Bach’s Easter Oratorio, the performances underscore the evocative power of music. Highlighting these remarkable events is James Gaffigan's interpretation of Beethoven's transcendent Ninth Symphony and a live orchestral performance of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'.

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Experience a symphonic journey into the heart of classical music with the San Francisco Symphony's diverse lineup of events. From Honeck's theatrical interpretation of Mozart's Requiem to Labadie's debut with Bach's Easter Oratorio, and even a live score performance of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,' these performances promise to captivate audiences. In this exploration of masterpieces, Gaffigan's rendition of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony stands as a testament to music's transformative power. Join us as we delve into these events, where artistry meets emotion.

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Experience the magic of orchestral music and film in an extraordinary lineup hosted by the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall. From Manfred Honeck's gripping interpretation of Mozart's final work to Bernard Labadie's vivid rendition of Bach's Easter Oratorio, these events offer a unique exploration of musical masterpieces. Dive into a world where classical music meets the cinematic grandeur of 'The Lord of the Rings', and witness the transformative power of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, conducted by James Gaffigan, that resonates with timeless themes of unity and compassion.

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Prepare for an unforgettable musical journey with the San Francisco Symphony as they present a series of extraordinary performances. From Manfred Honeck's theatrical take on Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Symphony No. 93 to Bernard Labadie's debut with Bach’s Easter Oratorio, this symphonic voyage promises a blend of orchestral brilliance and spiritual reflection. Adding a cinematic twist, the Symphony will perform the live score for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,' and culminates with James Gaffigan conducting Beethoven's transformative Ninth Symphony. Experience music that transcends time and genre.

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Kelley O’Connor

Thomas Cooley

Peixin Chen

James Gaffigan

Jessica Faselt

Jenny Wong

San Francisco Symphony Chorus

San Francisco Symphony

Renowned for his searching interpretations of French classical music as well as his genre-defying jazz records, pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet performs Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 5, Egyptian. The concerto’s nickname didn’t originate with Saint-Saëns; it came about because he composed most of it while on vacation in Luxor. But no single country could contain his restless imagination: the “Egyptian” compiles a world-traveler’s far-flung impressions. Debussy’s dreamy Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun and Berlioz’s hellacious Symphonie fantastique round out this program of French favorites led by Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan.

Symphonie fantastique & Jean-Yves Thibaudet

Davies Symphony Hall

Canadian maestro Bernard Labadie, one of the leading interpreters of the Baroque and Classical repertoire, conducts the first-ever SF Symphony performances of Bach’s Easter Oratorio, a spectacular celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Bach was a devout Lutheran, but he wrote music for real human beings, not musical sermons for potential saints. Who wouldn’t feel the grief of a mother who has lost her son, the sorrow of his devoted disciples, or the anguish of one who found redemption in his love? And who wouldn’t share in their exultation when he returns? Bach’s vivid Magnificat depicts Mary’s response to the news that she will bear the son of God. Although the score calls for large forces by Bach’s standards, the magnificence of the Magnificat never supplants the mystery.

Labadie Conducts Bach’s Easter Oratorio

Expect the Unexpected: Step into adventure as the Symphony brings extraordinary, multisensory experiences to the underground club atmosphere of the SoundBox space.

SoundBox: Gabriella Smith

Today’s Stars, Tomorrow’s Legends: Catch ascendant soloists in their Davies Symphony Hall recital debuts.

Nathan Amaral

Internationally renowned Wagner interpreter Simone Young returns to the San Francisco Symphony to conduct a can’t-miss symphonic synopsis of Wagner’s massive Ring cycle, featuring her own selection of orchestral excerpts. In her serenely invigorating orchestral piece The Space Between Stars, Sydney-based composer Ella Macens “wanted to convey the energy and magic of our night sky.” Set in a single searing movement, Saint-Saens’s Cello Concerto No. 1 is bursting with sonic surprises—a music-box minuet here, a sudden silence there—as well as the requisite solo pyrotechnics, taken here by the acclaimed French cellist Gautier Capuçon.

Simone Young & Gautier Capuçon

With a career spanning four decades, multiple Grammy awards, recitals in the most prestigious concert halls of the world, and collaborations and projects with artists spanning continents and genres, Joshua Bell “doesn’t stand in anyone’s shadow” (New York Times). One of the most celebrated and visionary performers of his generation, he has become a household name synonymous with unmatched artistry and virtuosity.

Joshua Bell Violin Recital

Sit back, relax, and experience the best band in town at Teen Night. Dress up, dress down, and come as you are for a fun night out that is not your parents’ concert.

Teen Night

Yuja Wang does double duty as pianist and director in a program of 20th-century favorites by Prokofiev and Hindemith with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.

Yuja Wang & Mahler Chamber Orchestra

Lights, Camera, Music!: Watch favorite films on the big screen at Davies Symphony Hall as the scores are performed live by the SF Symphony. Rated PG-13

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Ever subtle, ever ambivalent, Tchaikovsky juggles joy and tragedy in his Fourth Symphony, led here by guest conductor Dima Slobodeniouk. Tchaikovsky’s so-called “Fate” motif reminds us that we cannot live in the beautiful world of our dreams. “This is fate,” he explained, “that fatal force which hangs above your head like the sword of Damocles, and unwaveringly, constantly poisons the soul.” If fate is the soul’s poison, the Fourth’s shining finale is the antidote. Rarely programmed but undeniably compelling, Jacques Ibert’s Flute Concerto is among the most challenging pieces in the repertoire. The concerto is an electrifying assemblage of unlikely influences, ranging from Mozart to Stravinsky. SF Symphony Principal Flute Yubeen Kim takes on Ibert’s uncategorizable tour de force.

Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony

At 97, San Francisco Symphony Conductor Laureate Herbert Blomstedt maintains a rigorous concert schedule that belies his age. He conducts Mahler’s massive Ninth Symphony, a 90-minute marathon of emotional catharsis and technical derring-do. It was the last symphony that Mahler completed, and death was on his mind. At its core, and in spite of its tragic touches, the Ninth Symphony offers solace, the salvation of sunshine, a passing cloud, a child’s laughter.

Blomstedt Conducts Mahler 9

Just how American is the New World Symphony? Although many listeners swear that they hear snatches of such classic folk tunes as “Turkey in the Straw,” “Three Blind Mice,” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” Dvořák later claimed that the Ninth’s title was meant only to describe “impressions and greetings from the New World.” Kicking things off with a commissioned premiere by Tyler Taylor—the 2024 winner of the Emerging Black Composers Project—Romanian conductor Cristian Măcelaru leads the San Francisco Symphony in a rousing and profound program that also boasts Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto, No. 1, spotlighting Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski. The piano tumbles recklessly, sings ardently, mimics, mocks, and pounds until the meter-juggling finale drives home the happy ending.

Măcelaru Conducts Dvořák’s New World

Beethoven wanted his Ninth Symphony—led here by James Gaffigan—to enact a journey of transformation, exploring themes of struggle and salvation, community and compassion. Although he wasn’t religious in the conventional sense, he found spiritual sustenance in his art. Even in our hyperpolarized times, Beethoven’s Ninth feels like a unifying force across the globe, a cultural common good. For its creator, who drafted, revised, and perfected his final symphony over more than 30 years, its meaning was urgent, immediate, vital: In those decades he saw the humanist ideals of the French Revolution trampled by repressive regimes.

Gaffigan Conducts Beethoven 9

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