Composer Gavin Sutherland, Principal Conductor of English National Ballet, pays homage the five people who have guided his professional and artistic growth.
My first conducting teacher introduced me to the life and work of English conductor Sir John Barbirolli – a man who inspired unswerving loyalty and respect by orchestras, fellow conductors and audiences alike. This was chiefly due to the investment of love and care that he made in the musicians he worked with, always striving to create an excellent collaboration that communicated his respect for the music he performed. This is a significant quality that I have always tried to present in my own career.