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VIEW FROM THE TOP As conductor of the BSO, Nelsons will preside over the gilded Symphony Hall. "First I need to allow the power and the strength of the orchestra to develop, and to continue what the great maestros have done." 62 MUSIC MAN The BSO's new conductor shares insights on and off the job. *who are your favorite composers? "I love the Germanic tradition and the Germanic voice: Brahms, Mahler, Strauss, Bruckner. And of course the Slavic tradition: Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Dvorák, Bartók." *how do you stay so energetic on the podium? "Conducting always takes a lot of physical effort. You need to express the music through your arms and through your eyes, and you can use your body. I'm just trying to express the character of music for myself, and sometimes it's more energetic than it should probably be." [Laughs] *what "regular guy" things do you do? "I like to watch television—sports or comedies if I have time. The most important part is family. Without music and family, I have nothing, really." *are you a sports fan? "At the moment I'm not so familiar with baseball and American football, but I'm very familiar with ice hockey. There is, of course, a great baseball team and a great ice hockey team here; I would like to go to some games in Boston." PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU ROSNER (RED SOX GAME, BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA); COURTESY OF ANDRIS NELSONS (NELSONS AGE 12) continued from page 61 the audience and what it wants to hear." Looking further ahead, though, Nelsons envisions more adventurous programming. His recent seasons have reflected his enthusiasm for contemporary composers, including Marc-André Dalbavie, H.K. Gruber, and Mark-Anthony Turnage. He's also open to original works. "I think it's nice to make commissions from composers. Also, to do things for a chorus, and maybe to do opera in concert from time to time," Nelsons explains. He also aspires to elevate the BSO's profile through travel. "We want to do some touring to prove how great the orchestra is again in Europe. This is another ambition and dream I have." In the immediate future, Nelsons intends to establish a true home in Boston, along with his wife, soprano Kristine Opolais, and their daughter, Adriana, who is nearly 2 years old. It will be a marked contrast to Levine who, in splitting his time between Boston and New —ANDRIS NELSONS York as conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, was frequently an absent figure in the community. "As a conductor and for the musicians, it's a strange life. It's an exciting life," Nelsons explains. "It's a lot of traveling. One month you sing at the Metropolitan Opera, then one month you sing La Scala, then Munich, then Vienna, and then back to the Metropolitan. It's a difficult life in that sense, so I think it's good to consider the place you are most of the time as your home. And for me, most of the time, I'll be in Boston." At half Levine's age and the third-youngest music director in the BSO's 132-year history, the affable and candid Nelsons LEFT: Andris Nelsons confesses to finding the threw the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox post a bit daunting. "It's a game in June. lot of effort, a lot of presBELOW: At age 12, second from right. sure—in a good way. All the history, it puts big pressure on you, especially being a young conductor," he admits. But he's bolstered, he says, by the chemistry he has had with the orchestra during his previous conducting engagements. "I've been very excited. I know the orchestra will help me. I will support them, and I know they will support me." And they will make beautiful music together. Andris Nelsons conducts the BSO October 17–19 at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., 888-266-1200; bso.org BC BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 060-062_BC_SPR_P_VFT_LateFall13.indd 62 9/17/13 1:38 PM