Tarmo Peltokoski — the world's youngest star conductor | Music Documentary

The high-flyer of classical music! At just 23, the exceptionally talented Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski has found success at the helm of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. He especially loves the operas of Richard Wagner.

To successfully conduct an orchestra, a conductor needs to gain the respect of his musicians. That isn’t so easy when you're so young. Peltokoski began his career at only 21, and he is now regarded as the youngest star conductor in the world.

We met Peltokoski in the Latvian capital, Riga, for the rehearsals of the third part ("Siegfried") of Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" (The Ring of the Nibelung). The great German composer inspired Peltokoski to become a conductor.

Video by Juri Rescheto

© 2023 Deutsche Welle

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[Loopy]

All these cynical comments. If you'd seen this guy conduct live you'd have a different opinion. He is phenomenal. Embittered Youtube boomers who feel they missed out on a succesful career in music are not going to change that simple fact.

[madeleine_andrea]

I saw Tarmo conduct live at the BBC Proms and he did an EXCELLENT job. It was the best concert of my life! All the people hating on him are just jealous…

[yassirmohamed]

wow harsh comments below. Well, I saw him conducting Sibelius 1st and I think he did a Great job. Wish him best luck in music, lets be supportive to each other instead of all negative comments.

[johnnyguitar]

I just saw him conduct Bruckner's 9th Symphony and Sibelius' Violin Concerto for the Hong Kong Philharmonic last week. He was fantastic!! I believe we will keep hearing about Tarmo for years to come. Best of luck to this young, talented man!

[pogoriless]

I'm Latvian, have heard him in multiple concerts live - conducting Mahler Second and Strauss symphonic works, I can confirm, that his charisma and energy on stage is fascinating and inspiring; of course, he is extremely young, but still with enormous potential, talent and love towards the music!

[MisterPathetique]

2:24 "I know music. I can conduct."
That's such a cocky comment. Especially coming from a boy who has proven absolutely nothing so far.

[paullewis]

Another example of unnecessary hype in the “classical” music world. He needs to develop without this nonsense which ultimately can have a negative effect.

[papagen]

we need new genius composers, not conductors.

[jellaruiza]

showing the world with your amazing talent huh!!! hope to see you and witness your performanc someday, , , , proud to say i also came from Saulon clan.

[matthewbbenton]

“I do my thing, the musicians are professionals.” Quite right! They don’t need you, child.

[symphonyofsolidarity]

I cannot judge him until i see one of his concerts. I really liked Makela and his concerts though. Curious to see his future as well.
And as for people who think young conductors are always bad, remember that all the old conductors we know started when they were young. Eg dudamel stated at 18, karajan at 21, etc.
And there was a lot of hype around them during there time too. So yeah.

[TheStockwell]

It'll be fascinating to see if he becomes an important figure in music. What I've heard shows he plays music very fast, very crisp, and very precisely - which doesn't work with everything.

Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

[craigwalters]

This is only a short video clip and I have never worked with this young man. But what I see and hear here makes me very sceptical.

[borisbalson]

Seemingly very unpleasant young boy. I would not like to work with him

[quinftbl]

I really question this. Who is pushing this silliness?

[papagen]

he should conduct bellini and rossini before doing wagner because belcanto singing is important in wagner, i bet nobody taught him that in music school.

[БорисШалагінов]

О, в его возрасте я тоже любил размахивать карандашом в такт пластинке с Вагнером! Как показывает ролик, сейчас возможностей для "игры в дирижёра" намного больше!

[ksmith]

This is a child trying and failing to do adult work. What can an immature, callow youth bring to Mahler 9? Or Beethoven 6? Or Bruckner 8, without mugging, aping and acting on the podium? The worst part of it are all the supposed “adults” in arts administration who propel this idiocy and try to make real musicians - those who are compelled to participate in this farce - pretend he is the second coming of Von Karajan? A child has no insights into music brought and earned by living life and experiencing the full range of emotion which is then brought to the score and to rehearsal. A child has tantrums which masquerade as behaviors which make a mockery of the art. This fraud belongs in high school, not in front of professional musicians.

[corgansow]

The faces of the musicians at 1:35 😂😂😂😂😂

[maxscholl]

His precise, clean, smooth interpretation bores me to death. Just like any other major conductor nowadays, maybe other than Barenboim.