A word with Grete Pedersen

On 22 December, the traditional Christmas concert with the Rundfunkchor Berlin will take place in Berlin Cathedral, this year conducted by the successful Norwegian conductor Grete Pedersen.

In addition to music from the Renaissance and classical modernism, Grete Pedersen has also selected Christmas carols from her home country for the programme. In this interview, she tells us what sounds she personally associates with Christmas and what characterises the profession of conductor.

Dear Mrs Pedersen, you have brought some Norwegian Christmas carols with you for the Christmas concert in Berlin Cathedral on 22 December. Can you describe what makes the traditional music from your home country so special?

The music from Norway has a lot of space in it, which is difficult to describe. They are wonderful melodies. Tunes and lyrics that have been passed down orally to generations and have survived for centuries.

As a conductor, how much are you influenced by the music of your home country? How much are you personally influenced by it?

I am of course strongly influenced by the music I grew up with – it is very close to my heart. At the same time, I’m a curious person and always on the lookout for new influences and sounds.

What is the best thing about being a conductor?

That’s a big question… The best thing is to work with music and people and to experience the dedication and connection between the composer, the performers and the audience. Also that it’s like a never-ending journey of study.

You work a lot with young people: What advice do you give young conductors? What do you wish you had known when they were at the beginning of their career?

You can only hope that you have a long life as a conductor so that you don’t have to solve all your problems next week. And: making music is not so much about the conductor, but about the composer and the people performing the piece.

In your opinion, what qualities are most important for a good conductor?

Patience, impatience, not standing in the way of composers and musicians, dedication, taking risks, daring to fail, always looking for the essential in the music you are working with, and understanding that you are a helper and servant for musicians and composers. You should enjoy this process.

We usually ask our interviewees at the end what music they listen to in their private lives. But what we would most like to know from you is what music you personally associate most with Christmas.

Rather than a single piece of music, it is the sound of snowflakes and the crunching sound of walking on frozen snow. Did you know that the Sami people have around 300 different words for snow?