Introducing the conductor Benjamin Bayl for the Forsyth Barr concert ‘Sublime Schubert’

What excites you about conducting the DSO for the first time?

It will be my first time in Dunedin, and also my first time conducting on Te Waipounamu / South Island. (I made my début with the Auckland Philharmonia in 2022). It’s always wonderful to meet an orchestra for the first time, especially one that is not so far from my birth home in Australia (if we compare it to Europe where I have been based for more than 25 years now).

What makes Schubert’s ‘Tragic’ Symphony such a special piece for audiences today?

I think Schubert is such a fascinating composer, because – like Mozart – he lived a very short life, and his music really is that of a young man finding his way. I love his gift of melody, which he somehow combines with almost minimalistic rhythmic patterns and effects to achieve a unique sound.

How does Mozart’s Oboe Concerto complement the programme?

Mozart’s “Oboe Concerto” is also a very melodic- inspired work, almost like a mini-opera or an extended “song” for the oboe. In addition to this, it's always a pleasure to have as a soloist a musician from within another orchestra stepping up into the limelight!

Can you share a little about your approach to conducting repertoire from this Classical and early-Romantic period?

With my background as a keyboard player, I have a lot of experience in the period instrument world, not only the sound world but the approach which “HIP” (historically informed performance) musicians often bring to the table.When working with a modern symphony orchestra, I try to introduce some of these ideas and approaches, aiming to get closer to the sound world of 250 years ago