The elusive craft of a maestro

Before the 19th Century there was no such thing as a conductor. Once viewed as a glorified timekeeper, the maestro has since become one of the most revered and intriguing figures in classical music.

One such conductor making waves in Germany and across the globe is the 32-year-old Briton Alexander Shelley. As principal conductor of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra he is one of the youngest music directors in the world.

He talks to Clemency Burton-Hill about the elusive role of the maestro.

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