- Story by Sean McIntyre

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Not so long ago, when Christian Kluxen was growing up in Denmark, there was a common expression about people with a good sense of culture and an interest in the arts. Such folks were said to have surely come from a home with a piano.

Kluxen says the phrase is used less frequently these days as younger people draw inspiration from other sources in an entertainment universe that offers unprecedented scope at the expense of less and less time to meditate on what it all means.

It害羞草研究所檚 a disturbing trend, which the 36-year-old says has been especially noticeable in the world of classical music.

害羞草研究所淲e are the first generation where most of us didn害羞草研究所檛 sit down with our parents and listen to classical music,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淚 am convinced that ours is the lost generation of classical music.害羞草研究所�

But Kluxen wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have competed with hundreds of applicants in a multi-year process to become the 害羞草研究所檚 new music director if he wasn害羞草研究所檛 hopeful that change is possible. After all, we live in a world where classical music consistently evokes powerful emotions in popular films and primetime advertisements.

All we need to do, Kluxen says, is make great music accessible. Providing the opportunity to experience Beethoven害羞草研究所檚 Symphony No. 7 performed by some of the most accomplished musicians in the world, for example, is bound to generate enthusiasm and expand people害羞草研究所檚 musical understanding.

害羞草研究所淐ulture is not something we make, it害羞草研究所檚 what we are. It lies within all of us already, it just has to be found and opened up,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淢any people of my age are searching for something with depth. If we can just get them in the concert hall once, or maybe twice, they will come back.害羞草研究所�

VSO audiences will often see Kluxen in his role as conductor, though much of his work as musical director occurs off stage as he guides the organization害羞草研究所檚 artistic direction. Among other tasks, he害羞草研究所檒l help create a repertoire based on the orchestra害羞草研究所檚 strengths, recommend guest conductors and soloists, and be engaged in the process of hiring new musicians.

害羞草研究所淭here are many people in the institution who set a way for the organization, but I害羞草研究所檓 here to say which way the organization should be going artistically,害羞草研究所� Kluxen said in an interview at the VSO害羞草研究所檚 View Street headquarters, only a few hours before the public launch of the organization害羞草研究所檚 2017/18 season.

Small Danish flags on the office害羞草研究所檚 main reception desk welcomed Kluxen to the city and the building was charged with an atmosphere of eager anticipation and excitement over what害羞草研究所檚 ahead. Kluxen is one of those fabulously energetic people who can spark inspiration in those who surround him.

A busy string of concerts and opera performances across Sweden, Germany, Norway, Denmark and Finland saw Kluxen spend fewer than 10 nights in his own bed during the first three months of 2017. Despite the gruelling schedule, Kluxen landed in Victoria with the same confidence, energy and enthusiasm that enabled him to complete a three-year assistant conductorship at the in 2013, and undertake a at the in the 2014/15 season.

He害羞草研究所檚 conducted orchestras around the world. After his brief stay in Victoria and a well-deserved two-week reprieve, he was off to Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Romania before returning to the West Coast in early summer.

Accompanying this impressive resum茅, however, is a comforting genuineness.

Within 48 hours of his arrival in Victoria, Kluxen had already gotten to know the young owners of a new cafe across from the VSO害羞草研究所檚 downtown headquarters, received an impromptu city tour from his hotel害羞草研究所檚 concierge and got a sense of the city害羞草研究所檚 folk scene from some local musicians.

Kluxen likes to consider himself a normal guy with an extraordinary job. His interests are pretty commonplace: cooking, drawing, drinking and making crazy plans for the future with his girlfriend. Musically, his interests are understandably diverse, ranging from Radiohead and Rage Against the Machine to Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 go around hearing music inside my head all the time,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淧eople often think that conductors and musicians are a mirror of what they saw in a movie like Amadeus, but I think you害羞草研究所檒l find that most of them are really normal people. If they hear music all the time, everywhere they go, this would probably require some hours with a psychologist instead.害羞草研究所�

Kluxen is funny, opinionated and refreshingly unafraid to speak his mind. Qualities likes these bode well for a conductor eager to inspire a broader, new generation of classical music lovers and for one who害羞草研究所檚 been given the keys to chart the VSO害羞草研究所檚 artistic direction.

Sporting jeans, a black T-shirt and a simple blazer, Kluxen was dressed in the casually stylish uniform of the up-and-coming generation of millennials who refuse to curb their hopes and dreams to facilitate business as usual. He says he害羞草研究所檚 got nothing to gain from putting on airs to sound older, wiser or more sophisticated. His life is an ever-evolving journey, and Kluxen doesn害羞草研究所檛 shy away from confidently speaking from the heart.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just myself and I will always speak my thoughts,害羞草研究所� he says.

Kluxen害羞草研究所檚 candour is infectious. It害羞草研究所檚 not long before he feels like an old friend who is able to laugh, confide and commiserate. He switches seamlessly from talking about the emotional weight of a great piece of music, the tragic consequences of funding cuts to local arts and culture and the power of music to address society害羞草研究所檚 ills.

害羞草研究所淚 conduct in many places and, basically, I have to say it makes me very optimistic to always see that people are just people and that, actually, we all do the same things in slightly different ways,害羞草研究所� he says.

害羞草研究所淚 do this job because I like it, but I also believe that it has the power to change something for some people.害羞草研究所�

Thankfully, it may not be long until the family piano gets placed back in its rightful place after all.