I have always loved music, especially classical music and opera. I greatly admire opera singers such as Placido Domingo and Joan Sutherland, but I am fascinated by conductors. Many renowned conductors – Claudio Abbado, Carlo Maria Giulini, Zubin Metha and Georges Prêtre – were gifted at conducting music as it was written. But one conductor stands out from the rest: Herbert von Karajan conducted music not as it was written, but as he rewrote it.

I find conductors fascinating not only because they interpret music so that it has a particular meaning, but also because conductors work with multidisciplinary teams made up of strong personalities.