Michael Tilson Thomas — MTT to anyone who loved classical music in this city — has passed away, and with him goes one of the most vibrant chapters in the San Francisco Symphony's history. The man conducted the SFS for a quarter century, transforming it from a respected regional orchestra into one of the premier ensembles on the planet.

But here's what made MTT different from your standard-issue maestro: the guy had range. We're talking about a conductor who could bring you to tears with Mahler's Ninth and then — literally — make a fruit smoothie onstage. (Yes, that happened. We reviewed it back in 2012, and it was exactly as delightful as it sounds.) He understood that classical music didn't need to be stuffy to be serious, and he spent decades proving it.

For a city that loves to talk about innovation and disruption, MTT was the real deal long before those words became insufferable LinkedIn buzzwords. He made the symphony accessible without dumbing it down. He championed American composers when it wasn't fashionable. He built something that lasted.

And that's the part worth dwelling on — he built something that lasted. In a city where institutions seem to crumble under mismanagement and bloated budgets with alarming regularity, MTT ran a tight, excellent ship. He attracted world-class talent, filled seats, and delivered results. Imagine if our city government operated with even half that discipline.

San Francisco has a habit of not appreciating what it has until it's gone. The restaurants that close, the neighbors who leave, the leaders who made this city worth living in.

Don't let MTT be one of those things you only appreciate in hindsight. If you've never been to the symphony, go. That's his legacy — and it's still playing.

Rest easy, Maestro.