Lawrence Renes Photo: Mats Bäcker
Dutch-Maltese conductor Lawrence Renes is in New Zealand for the Auckland Philharmonia's next concert which features star Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth.
He caught up with RNZ Concert's Andrew Clark to talk about how he came to classical music, standing in at the beginning of his career for the great conductor Riccardo Chailly, and whether he sees similarities between flying an aeroplane (another of his many talents) and conducting.
"I think there are similarities, actually... I always like to liken it to horseback riding. If you ride a horse and you hold the reins too tightly, the horse is not moving. And if the reins are too free, then the horse goes its own way."
"You have to find this incredible, delicate balance between 'too tight' and 'too loose'."
"But if you mange to find that, and become one with the horse, or become one with an orchestra, or become one with an airplane it's the most incredible feeling..."
"To use an aviation term, it puts you above the clouds and it's the happiest place I can be."
Totally Trumpet
Tine Thing Helseth (trumpet), Auckland Philharmonia, Lawrence Renes (conductor)
Thursday 28 May, 7.30pm, Auckland Town Hall
Smetana: Overture, The Bartered Bride
Aleksandra Pakhmutova: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra
Penderecki: Trumpet Concertino
Rachmaninov: Symphony No 3
