A nice excerpt from yesterday’s NPR: Morning Edition interview on Power: … STAMBERG: Let us talk about the power of the music itself. Describe for us, if you can, what it is like to conduct enormous musical moments, say something in a Mahler symphony. Ms. ALSOP: Yeah. I’m just closing my eyes, trying to be in that space. I’ve never been surfing, but I’ve seen some of those films that are so beautiful, you know, where the people, especially in Hawaii–where the waves are larger than buildings, I imagine it’s the feeling of working hard, you know, but always knowing where you’re headed, and feeling the power of this water take you, and when you finally catch that perfect wave, you almost don’t have to do anything. (Soundbite of music) Ms. ALSOP: You almost cease to exist in that moment. Those are the great moments in music, where there’s a rush, and it’s just an organic experience. It couldn’t be any other way. Everyone is on the same wavelength, complete focus. I often find the time in concerts rather dramatically changed for me, because it is like being in a trance. It’s not that you’re not involved and that it’s a passive experience. You’re actually directing it, but when you arrive at those points, you can’t push too hard. You need to let the musicians carry it. STAMBERG: Thank you so much. Ms. ALSOP: My pleasure. STAMBERG: Marin Alsop, principal conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony in England, and music director laureate of the Colorado Symphony. … Man, for someone who’s never surfed she’s certainly has the feeling. Rob Olliges