Briton charges in with baton

Mark Wigglesworth has a pretty tough two weeks ahead of him.

Not only will be performing with an orchestra he has never led before the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra but the acclaimed English conductor will also be collaborating with a soloist, Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov, who he has never met.

Yet it's a challenge he should be relishing by the time he performs with the NZSO in Hamilton on July 23, on the orchestra's latest two-week national tour.

Speaking to the Waikato Times only hours after flying into New Zealand for the first time earlier this week, Wigglesworth said performing with a "fresh" group of musicians could be a very rewarding experience.

"Sometimes it's difficult, but sometimes it's an advantage. They won't have time to be bored with me," he laughed.

"Often the first experience can be really thrilling, especially if you have that certain indefinable chemistry from the start."

Wigglesworth arrives in New Zealand with a fine pedigree.

After studying at London's Royal Academy of Music, he has gone on to lead some of Europe and North American's most prestigious orchestras, such as the Berlin, London and the New York Philharmonic Orchestras.

As well, he has conducted opera productions on some of Europe's biggest stages.

Wigglesworth said the role of the conductor had changed over the years, from that of a musical ruler to simply just another element of the orchestra.

"The old fashioned pre-conception that conductors have for being autocratic is out of date these days. It's more of a collaborative undertaking now."

The Sussex-based conductor said in a world that was more connected through technology, people were less emotionally connected to each other and themselves.

This was where live music was important in reuniting those links, he said.

"Connecting people together through music is a wonderful experience to be part of. From the musicians to the audience, and the audience to themselves, the power of live music really is to connect." Conductor Mark Wigglesworth, pianist Alexander Melnikov and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra perform at Hamilton's Founders Theatre on July 23. The concert begins at 8pm. Tickets are available from Ticket Direct.