Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas dies

The world of classical music is mourning the loss of Michael Tilson Thomas, a visionary conductor and composer who transformed the San Francisco Symphony into a world-class ensemble.

Thomas was renowned for his innovative programming and his commitment to making music accessible to new audiences through his New World Symphony academy.

His career was marked by numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts and a Kennedy Center Honor.

He continued to perform and record until his final months, leaving behind a vast and influential legacy that includes definitive recordings of Mahler and Stravinsky.