John Adams steps into the breach this week to conduct one of his own works Grand Pianola Music with the San Francisco Symphony. The concerts take place on 16, 17 and 18 January at the Davies Symphony Hall. 

Adams has a long history with the orchestra and is a regular guest, most recently conducting his own work, El Niño. Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas also conducted the world premiere of Adams’ work for string quartet and orchestra, Absolute Jest, in 2012.

This week’s concerts follow on directly from his ​‘Green Umbrella’ series concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on 13 January in the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where the programme includes contemporary works by HK Gruber, John Zorn and Olga Neuwirth.