Dublin-born conductor Killian Farrell is a first-class honours graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied musicology. He took up the piano at age five and started conducting in his teen years. His latest project sees him conduct La Traviata, one of the first operas he fell in love with.
The last thing I saw and loved… the recent Marc Rothko exhibit at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. It was remarkable to see his early development and to get to experience so many of his huge-scale paintings together in one room.
The book I keep coming back to… Dubliners by James Joyce. It was given to me as a gift when I first left Ireland, and I still pick it up when I’m feeling homesick.
I find inspiration in… my colleagues.
My favourite film is… Bicycle Thieves (or Ladri di Biciclette as it’s called in Italian). It’s a very simple film with a profound message about the hardship of life.
My career highlight is… my first symphony concert as music director in Meiningen, conducting Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony. I have loved the epic grandeur of that piece since I was 15 years old, and getting to finally perform it was a very special experience.
The song I listen to to get in the zone is… I prefer silence!
The last book I recommended is… Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz. On the realistic side of magical realism, but entertaining and touching in equal measure.
I never leave the house without… my pencil case! All of my tools in the trade are kept in there.
A performance I still think about is… a recital given by the extraordinary mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska in Stuttgart. I think she might be one of the most vividly communicative artists singing today, and her integrity on stage is unique.
My dream show to conduct would be… Wagner’s Ring – 16 hours of music over four days, and still not enough!
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… work on your reputation, not on your career.
My favourite moment in this performance is… the silence between the end of the music and the beginning of the applause.
The most challenging thing about being a conductor is… realising that it can be a very lonely profession. Although we are surrounded by people during our performances, afterwards, we sit alone in our hotel rooms!
After a performance, I… look forward to a glass of wine with my colleagues.
If I wasn’t a conductor, I would be… a song pianist. I would need to practice more!
The magic of music to me is… the ability to express something that words can’t.
La Traviata comes to Irish stages this month with shows in Dublin, Wexford and Cork. You can find out more info here.
Imagery courtesy of Killian Farrell
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