October 25, 2024, 6:30 pm | Updated: October 25, 2024, 6:32 p.m

The conductor reviews footage of himself leading an orchestra | Classic FM

Ben Palmer – the conductor of the last two Classic FM Live shows – sat down to talk about how a conductor thinks, in a Classic FM exclusive.

Have you ever sat at a concert and found yourself watching the figure on the podium, frantically gesturing at the orchestra and thinking, “what are they really doing?”

Thankfully, Ben Palmer is here to answer that very question in an exclusive video, where he brilliantly illuminates the conductor’s mysterious and shadowy world, in a review of a performance of Grieg’s show-stopper In the Hall of the Mountain King.

Ben led the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in a sensational rendition of the hit song on Classic FM Live with Viking at the Royal Albert Hall in April.

The conductor, who is known for his engaging and inspiring performances worldwide, highlights the importance of gestures to gently remind the players to highlight certain features and shares his feelings of excitement as the choir makes its blast.

Ben shows us that the conductor’s role is to bring together the skill and experience of the many musicians on stage, as opposed to being a dictator, telling us that “when you work with a brilliant orchestra like the RSNO, everyone brings one’s own collective experience of the piece; that’s why it’s so fun to play.”