Michael Tilson Thomas

Biography

Michael Tilson Thomas (December 21, 1944 – April 22, 2026) was an American conductor, composer and pianist. He was artistic director laureate of the New World Symphony, an American orchestral academy in Miami Beach, Florida, music director laureate of the San Francisco Symphony, and conductor laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. He gave his final performance with the San Francisco Symphony in April 2025 while fighting brain cancer.

Known for

HD

Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2

2019 ⭐ 8.7

HD

Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood

2018 ⭐ 10.0

HD

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

2018 ⭐ 6.9

HD

Keeping Score: Beethoven's Eroica

2006 ⭐ 10.0

Career timeline

2020

Michael Tilson Thomas: Where Now Is

2020

2019

Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 Notable

Self · 2019

⭐ 8.7

2018

Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood Notable

Self - Conductor · 2018

⭐ 10.0

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

Self · 2018

⭐ 6.9

2011

Keeping Score: Mahler Legacy

Narrator · 2011

Keeping Score: Mahler Origins

Narrator · 2011

Keeping Score - Mahler Origins and Legacy

Conductor · 2011

2009

Keeping Score: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

2009

Keeping Score - Hector Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

2009

2006

Keeping Score: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring

2006

Keeping Score: Beethoven's Eroica Notable

2006

⭐ 10.0

2003

Bad Boy Made Good: The Revival of George Antheil's 1924 Ballet Mécanique Notable

Self - Conductor · 2003

⭐ 10.0

2000

John Adams: A Portrait and A Concert of Modern American Music

Self · 2000

1976

Carnival of the Animals

Self - Conductor · 1976

⭐ 6.0

Frequently appears with

James Hetfield

Self

Lars Ulrich

Self

Kirk Hammett

Self

Robert Trujillo

Self

Audra McDonald

Self - Host

Andris Nelsons

Self - Conductor

Christoph Eschenbach

Self - Conductor

John Williams

Self - Conductor

Full filmography

HD

Michael Tilson Thomas: Where Now Is

2020

HD

Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2

2019 ⭐ 8.7

HD

Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood

2018 ⭐ 10.0

HD

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

2018 ⭐ 6.9

HD

Keeping Score: Mahler Legacy

2011

HD

Keeping Score: Mahler Origins

2011

HD

Keeping Score - Mahler Origins and Legacy

2011

HD

Keeping Score: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

2009

HD

Keeping Score - Hector Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

2009

HD

Keeping Score: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring

2006

HD

Keeping Score: Beethoven's Eroica

2006 ⭐ 10.0

HD

Bad Boy Made Good: The Revival of George Antheil's 1924 Ballet Mécanique

2003 ⭐ 10.0

HD

John Adams: A Portrait and A Concert of Modern American Music

2000

HD

Carnival of the Animals

1976 ⭐ 6.0

HD

Keeping Score: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4