Grave of composer Peter Iliych Tchaikovsky, Tikhvin Cemetery, St. Petersburg Photo: Supplied
Ben Le Heux is a New Zealand conductor who's been based in Europe for the last 10 years or so, working with many orchestras in Russia and Eastern Europe.
He’s now back home in New Zealand working on a doctorate and teaching conducting.
Earlier this year, Ben conducted the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra's sold-out Mozart in Paris concert, standing in for the orchestra's Chief conductor, Benjamin Northey, who was stuck in Australia.
Upbeat caught up with Ben recently to find out what life as a freelance conductor in Europe has been like.
Music details:
SVIRIDOV: Main theme, from Time, Forward! Suite - Bolshoi Theatre Orch/Mark Ermler (Melodiya)
SVIRIDOV: Winter road, from The Snowstorm - Tchaikovsky SO/Vladimir Fedoseyev (Melodiya)
