San Francisco is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, which includes world-class museums, theaters, dance companies and more. One of the pillars of any major city’s arts offerings is the presence of a professional symphony orchestra. So does San Francisco have its own orchestra?
Brief History of Orchestras in San Francisco
The short answer is yes, San Francisco does have a professional orchestra – in fact it has two! Before diving into the present-day orchestras, it’s helpful to understand the history of orchestras in San Francisco.
San Francisco has had a vibrant classical music scene since the Gold Rush era of the 1850s. The earliest documented orchestra performances were by the San Francisco Philharmonic Society starting in 1853. In the late 19th and early 20th century, several orchestras formed including the People’s Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
The current San Francisco Symphony grew out of the People’s Philharmonic Orchestra, giving its first concert in 1911. The orchestra played at the Civic Auditorium until the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall opened in 1980. This world-class concert venue remains the orchestra’s home today.
Now over 100 years old, the San Francisco Symphony has won numerous Grammy awards and represents one of the United States’ major orchestras. It is considered one of the top orchestras internationally as well.
The San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) gives over 150 performances annually, including symphonic concerts, chamber music, special events, family concerts and more. The orchestra is composed of over 100 professional musicians.
The SFS was the first orchestra to feature women musicians and disabled musicians, helping lead the way in diversity and inclusion in the arts. The orchestra partners with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for educational initiatives.
The San Francisco Symphony has been led by several renowned music directors including Pierre Monteux, Seiji Ozawa, Herbert Blomstedt, and currently Michael Tilson Thomas. Tilson Thomas concludes his 25-year tenure as Music Director in 2020, to be succeeded by Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Beyond concerts at its home Davies Symphony Hall, the SFS puts on a summer Free Outdoor Concert Series in Stern Grove. The orchestra has also toured nationally and internationally over its hundred-plus year history.
Recent Highlights of the San Francisco Symphony
- 2006-2018: Recorded the Mahler symphony cycle, winning eight Grammy awards
- 2009: First ever YouTube Symphony Orchestra concert at Carnegie Hall featuring Mason Bates as composer-in-residence
- 2011: Centennial season performing works commissioned for the 100th anniversary
- 2018: European tour with concerts in Edinburgh, London, Paris, Luxembourg, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Vienna
The San Francisco Opera Orchestra
In addition to the San Francisco Symphony, the city is also home to the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. This ensemble specifically accompanies the operas put on by the San Francisco Opera company each season.
Founded in 1923, the San Francisco Opera is the second largest opera company in North America. The San Francisco Opera Orchestra plays for all of the company’s operatic productions in the War Memorial Opera House.
While smaller than the Symphony, the Opera Orchestra is composed of approximately 70 professional musicians. Members of the Orchestra are also often members of the Symphony. The Opera Orchestra is led by the company’sMusic Director, currently Eun Sun Kim. Previous well-known Music Directors have included Pierre Monteux, Kurt Herbert Adler, and Donald Runnicles.
Highlights of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra
- 1923: Founded as orchestra for the San Francisco Opera company
- 1932: Begins playing on the War Memorial Opera House stage
- 1961: Edo de Waart appointed Associate Conductor, later Music Director 1977-1985
- 1988-2001: Donald Runnicles serves as Music Director
- 2018-present: Eun Sun Kim is first female Music Director of the company and orchestra
Other Orchestras and Ensembles in San Francisco
In addition to the city’s two major orchestras, San Francisco boasts a number of other classical, opera, ballet, and ensemble groups:
- New Century Chamber Orchestra – chamber orchestra founded in 1992
- San Francisco Ballet Orchestra – performs for SF Ballet productions
- Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra – period instrument ensemble focusing on 17th-19th century music
- Kronos Quartet – contemporary string quartet founded in 1973
These groups and more add to the rich classical music landscape of the region. However, the San Francisco Symphony and Opera Orchestra represent the city’s two most prominent professional orchestras.
Conclusion
In conclusion, San Francisco has not just one but two world-class professional orchestras – the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. These two ensembles anchor the city’s strong tradition of classical music.
The San Francisco Symphony gives over 150 concerts per year, while the Opera Orchestra plays for the opera company’s season. Though separate entities, the two orchestras share musicians and contribute to making San Francisco a top city for classical music.
Beyond these two orchestras, the city also enjoys performances by chamber ensembles, ballet orchestras, period instrument groups and more. But the presence of these two full, professional, internationally recognized orchestras confirms that yes, San Francisco does have an orchestra – in fact it has two!