Andris Nelsons in conversation with Matthew Hunter (15 min.)

In the run-up to Christmas of 2018, Andris Nelsons conducted Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony, a work that for many years the Berliner Philharmoniker had performed exclusively under the baton of their chief conductors Claudio Abbado and Sir Simon Rattle. Nelson preceded the five-movement composition, which lasts nearly 90 minutes, with a short piece for choir and percussion by his fellow Latvian Maija Einfelde. The concert’s guest performers included the singers Lucy Crowe and Gerhild Romberger plus the MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig. Nelsons talks to the Philharmoniker’s violist Matthew Hunter about the programme, his 40th birthday, his fascination with martial arts, and his work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, whose music director he is.