Antonio Pappano's conducting tips

1 October 2012, 12:46

What is a conductor? And how do they make an orchestra play together? Maestro Antonio Pappano shares the knowledge from his international conducting career.

Before he judged the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition, Sir Antonio Pappano shared his thoughts on the craft with Classic FM's Jamie Crick. What are the skills he looks for in the next generation of conducting talent?

"When you're looking at another conductor, you're looking for that special spark of energy that is almost paranormal," he said. "Something that draws the musicians to the conductor."

A conductor, he says, needs to make the music jump from the page, and communicate the expression in the score to the players. This can come from the conductor's personality, from their eyes, or from their wrist as they direct the musicians with their baton.

Classic FM is broadcasting the final of the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition on 15 October on The Full Works Concert, between 8-10pm.