Conductor

Passionate about music since he was a child, Esa-Pekka Salonen— incoming music director of the San Francisco Symphony in 2020, and prolific, internationally acclaimed composer—finds personal meaning in the music of others, and discovers new insights into his own music when colleagues conduct it. WRTI's Susan Lewis has more.

As he wrapped up his third and final year as assistant conductor at The Philadelphia Orchestra, Kensho Watanabe talked with Susan Lewis about his unusual path to the podium.

Conductor Herbert Blomstedt’s life has been fueled by music for over eight decades. As WRTI’s Susan Lewis reports, he says an early listening experience was the spark.

Is leading a symphony orchestra anything like playing chess? As WRTI’s Susan Lewis reports, one very busy conductor, Alain Altinoglu, is drawn to both.

A young Spanish conductor making his mark today has aimed to know a variety of ensembles, repertoires, and styles.  As WRTI’s Susan Lewis reports, he’s also committed to giving back to the community through music.

The distinguished conductor, violinist, and composer Lorin Maazel, known for his perfect pitch and photographic memory, has stood as one of the master conductors of our era for more than 50 years. For the last seven he has led the world-renowned New York Philharmonic with artistry and passion. Currently, Maazel is music director of the Santiago Calatrava-designed opera house in Valencia, Spain, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, which opened at the start of the 2006/07 season.