Thomas Quasthoff: I never wanted to conduct

The retired bass-baritone explains in a radio interview how he came to be conducting Bach’s St Matthew Passion at the Verbier Festival tonight – his maestro debut.

Tommy, 55, says the idea came from Verbier chief Martin Engstroem not long after he gave up singing for health reasons. He thought about it long and hard, discussed it with his wife and friends, listened to dozens of recordings and finally took up the challenge.

‘We’re going to have a lot of pleasure together,’ he says, ‘but don’t start thinking I’m the next Karajan.’

Listen to his interview in German, here.

In another interview he says, ‘what do you call it when you conduct without arms?’ referring to his physical disability.

Go for it, Tommy.

You can hear the concert on medici.tv.