Obituary: Michael Tilson Thomas
Dynamic American conductor-composer who wrote the orchestral work “From the Diary of Anne Frank”
Assessment
The death of Michael Tilson Thomas removes a figure who bridged classical tradition and contemporary American composition. His most widely noted work, an orchestral piece drawn from Anne Frank's diary, showed how he used personal history to create public musical expression. Readers should watch for reflections on his legacy from the orchestras he shaped, particularly the New World Symphony, and for performances of his compositions.