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Use the tabs below to find out about each section of the orchestra, watch video clips, and read interviews with musicians.
Who's that waving their hands at the front? A conductor does a lot more that just keeping time. They have to know the music inside out and back to front. They shape the music the orchestra plays and lead them during performances. Conductors came into their own when the orchestra got too big to lead itself.
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Meet the orchestra
Grant Llewellyn, Conductor
BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales
How did you become a conductor?
Conducting just evolved naturally for me out of a whole variety of music making at school where I sang, composed, played in chamber music groups, chamber orchestras and symphony orchestras.Do you play any musical instruments?
I play the cello and piano reasonably well and have been known to sing a lot.Do you have a favourite composer?
Whoever I am conducting this week. So that makes it Haydn, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev.What is your favourite music to conduct?
The most fun I ever have is when conducting opera, after weeks of production rehearsals, putting all the different voices together with chorus, costumes, staging, and finally orchestra. It's such a thrill when it all works.What is the best thing about conducting an orchestra?
I get to choose the music.What has been the scariest moment in your career?
Conducting the Argentinian national Anthem at the opening of the Rugby World cup whilst the Red Arrows flew over the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, drowning out the music. I thought that I'd started an international incident.
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Radio & TV
Most recent
- Available to listenDeborah Bull explores ballet music in late Victorian London, at the music hall theatres.
- Available to listenSara Mohr-Pietsch explores Britten's choral works.
- Available to listenAndrew McGregor explores Mahler's Das klagende Lied.
- Available to listenSarah Walker explores Rachmaninov's choral works.
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