Legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas completes the first week of his final season as San Francisco Symphony Music Director with a special appearance, conducting a portion of the show.

The announcement was made earlier today at Chase Center with a press conference with Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, who joined Michael Tilson Thomas from San Francisco Symphony. Warriors Owner and CEO Joe Lacob and Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts joined San Francisco Mayor London Breed for today’s press conference event as well. For a video of today’s press conference, CLICK HERE.

“Bringing together Metallica and San Francisco Symphony 20 years later for our first event at Chase Center is going to be an incredible and unique performance for the Bay Area,” said Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts. “This announcement is one of many of the must-see acts we’ll have as we continue to add a variety and diversity of shows to Chase Center’s calendar.”

“This is beyond exciting on so many fronts,” said Metallica’s Lars Ulrich. “The fact that San Francisco is finally getting a much needed world-class arena, the fact that Metallica get to be part of the opening celebration, the fact that we get to revisit S&M 20 years later, and the fact that we get to share the stage not only with the San Francisco Symphony once again, but with the legend himself, MTT, as he kicks off his final year as music director here in San Francisco. This is mind-blowingly awesome… bring it on ASAP!!!”

“The San Francisco Symphony is delighted to be a part of the Chase Center’s opening week, and to perform once again with Metallica to recreate the magic of the historic S&M concerts,” said San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas. “I’m happy to join with my friends in Metallica to make this an extraordinary only-in-San Francisco music event.”

The original S&M concerts were performed by Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony conducted by the late Michael Kamen In spring of 1999 at the Berkeley Community Theatre. The S&M album, was released later that year, winning a Best Rock Instrumental Performance GRAMMY for its version of “The Call of Ktulu.” The S&M2 concert will feature the first live performances of these arrangements in 20 years, plus the first ever Metallica/San Francisco Symphony renditions of songs written and released since the original S&M, with new orchestral charts by Bruce Coughlin.

The first presale event begins on Tuesday, March 19 at 9:00 a.m. exclusively for Metallica Fan Club members, with an additional presale event at 12:00 p.m. for Chase cardholders. Additional presale events will be held for Chase Center Membership members on Wednesday, March 20 at 12:00 p.m. and for Warriors Season Ticket Priority Wait List members on Thursday, March 21 at 9:00 a.m. Tickets will be made available to the general public on Friday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. Fans will be able to purchase tickets by visiting chasecenter.com.