Leonard Slatkin

Norman Lebrecht talks to the American conductor Leonard Slatkin about his life and career.

Leonard recalls his childhood in a busy household, with both parents heavily involved in Hollywood recording studios, surrounded by celebrated composers such as Erich Korngold, as well as stars from popular culture: Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Marilyn Monroe were among his parents' friends and collaborators. He talks about the figure of his father, who died young but was influential in shaping his son's conducting career, and recalls surviving a nearly-fatal heart attack himself, while at the rostrum in Rotterdam.

Leonard also describes the exciting conductor posts he took up with American orchestras - Detroit, St Louis and Washington, the latter at the request of President Clinton - at a time when the recording era was a its peak. He talks candidly about his brief and disappointing experience at the helm of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but within which he experienced what he calls the most memorable moment in his music career: conducting the Last Night of the BBC Proms in 2001, just a few days after the events of 9/11 in America.