Charles Dutoit: Celebrating a legacy of mastery and discovery

Their collaboration in Mozart's Piano Concerto No 22, Dutoit says, depends on something that has little to do with technical mastery alone: listening.

"The chemistry between two musicians is much like any relationship in life," he says. "It sometimes works wonderfully and sometimes less so. But, as in every aspect of life, one has to learn to be respectful of each other's views and listen."

With Leonskaja, he says, that chemistry came naturally.

"I feel we share a strong musical connection where a mutual understanding and instinctive communication make performing music together a particularly rewarding experience."

For Dutoit, approaching Mozart or Respighi after decades of conducting is not simply a matter of relying on experience. His interpretation of music has matured, he says, but his fundamental principle has remained unchanged: respect the composer.

"It is essential to explore the social and historical context of a composer's life to understand the depth of his work," he says.

Dutoit describes Respighi as "a master orchestrator", with the trilogy offering a showcase for the orchestra's range of colors and textures. Dutoit sees the music's ability to create an experience in the present moment as the enduring appeal of the concert hall.

He compares listening to live music with visiting a museum. A painting remains physically unchanged, even as a viewer's understanding of it may evolve. Music, however, is re-created every time it is performed.

"In a concert hall, when it depends on the musicians, the audience, the space and the acoustics, the emotions in that particular moment … you are not simply observing but actually experiencing something that is being created there and then," he says.

As he celebrates his 90th birthday in Beijing, Dutoit remains less interested in looking back than in continuing to listen.

For young musicians, he says, music is about more than mastering an instrument or interpreting a score. It is about communicating with other people.

"Every time you perform, you have an opportunity to share something deeply human with an audience, and no two performances will ever be the same."

And for those encountering classical music for the first time, his advice is strikingly simple.

"Simply listen," he says. "Allow the music to speak to you, and give yourself time to discover what moves you."