The sad news we knew was coming, reported on the FaceBook page of Michael Tilson Thomas:
“It is with deep sadness that we let you know of Michael Tilson Thomas’s passing on April 22, 2026. In 2021, Michael was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive type of brain cancer. Through his illness he continued to make music—a testament to his legacy as an artist and communicator. He was preceded in death by his husband Joshua Robison, and passed away at home surrounded by loved ones and family. Joshua and Michael are survived by their sisters, nieces and nephews.”
Joshua Kosman, whose tenure as chief critic of San Francisco Chronicle spanned the entire Michael Tilson Thomas era with SF Symphony, provides a beautiful tribute here; Tim Page reflects on MTT’s legacy for the Washington Post; and Anthony Tomassini’s NY Times obituary can be found here.
From PBS’s American Masters series:
Filed under: Michael Tilson Thomas, music news
MEMETERIA by Thomas May 