A COMPREHENSIVE, DELUXE COLLECTION HONORING FIVE DECADES OF COMPOSITIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

In celebration of his 80th birthday, this four-disc set spans more than five decades of Michael Tilson Thomas' compositional career. It features 18 works, from premiere recordings to remastered archival recordings available for the first time. The deluxe collection also includes an extensive booklet containing composer's notes, original essays, and a timeline of archival photos chronicling MTT's life as a pianist, conductor, composer, recording artist, and teacher.

All proceeds from GRACE: The Music of Michael Tilson Thomas will be donated to brain cancer research at the UCSF Brain Tumor Center.

Michael Tilson Thomas

“There are two key times in an artist’s life. The first is inventing yourself. The second, the harder part, is going the
distance. How do you sustain the vision, make it grow, and share it? To be an artist means to have the courage for rebirth and growth. It’s never ending.”

Artists

San Francisco Symphony

Sasha Cooke, vocals

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

Bay Brass

Isabel Leonard, narrator

Audra McDonald, vocals

Larry Moore

Thomas Hampson, baritone

New World Symphony

Renée Fleming, soprano

Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, soprano

Carrie VanSlyke, viola

Jeremy VanSlyke, piano

Pat Posey, baritone sax

Edwin Outwater

Lisa Vroman, vocals

Paula Robison, flute

Nancy Zeltsman

Jack Van Germ

Ryan McKinley

Ian Bousfield

John Wilson, piano

Works

Agnegram
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: San Francisco Symphony
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

Not Everyone Thinks That I’m Beautiful
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Performer: Sasha Cooke (Vocals), Jean-Yves Thibaudet (Piano)

Street Song
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: Bay Brass

From the Diary of Anne Frank
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: San Francisco Symphony
Performer: Isabel Leonard (Narrator)
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

Sentimental Again
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: San Francisco Symphony
Performer: Audra McDonald (Vocals)
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

Whitman Songs
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: San Francisco Symphony
Performer: Thomas Hampson (Baritone)
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

Poems of Emily Dickinson
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: San Francisco Symphony
Performer: Renée Fleming (Soprano)
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

I’m Nobody! Who Are You?
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Performer: Measha Brueggergosman-Lee (Soprano), Carrie VanSlyke (Viola), Jeremy VanSlyke (Piano)

Urban Legend
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: members of the San Francisco Symphony
Performer: Pat Posey (Baritone saxophone)
Conductor: Edwin Outwater

Symphony Cowgirl
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: members of the San Francisco Symphony
Performer: Lisa Vroman (Vocals), Michael Tilson Thomas (Vocals)

Notturno
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: New World Symphony
Performer: Paula Robison (Flute)
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

Island Music
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: members of the San Francisco Symphony percussion section
Performer: Nancy Zeltsman (Marimba), Jack Van Geem (Marimba)

Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: New World Symphony
Performer: Measha Brueggergosman-Lee (Soprano)
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

Meditations on Rilke
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: San Francisco Symphony
Performer: Sasha Cooke (Mezzo-Soprano), Ryan McKinny (Bass-Baritone)
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

Snappy Patter
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Performer: Ian Bousfield (Trombone)

Upon Further Reflection
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Performer: John Wilson (Piano)

Lope
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Ensemble: New World Symphony
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

Grace
Composer: Michael Tilson Thomas
Performer: Sasha Cooke (Vocals), Jean-Yves Thibaudet (Piano)