What brought you to Wales and what was your first impression of Welsh culture?
I first came here, two years ago to work with Welsh National Opera. I chose to stay near the University in Cathays Park, and I loved the area. There were many young people, full of energy, and the whole atmosphere made me feel very comfortable, very warm; the people here are very friendly. So, that was my first impression of Cardiff and Wales. I'm quite fascinated about the language. When I was at Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland there was a Chorus who sang some Welsh songs, and they were just beautiful, I’d never heard the language before. I think Welsh people have a great reputation in singing together and I'm working with BBC National Chorus of Wales in November, so I really look forward to that.
You are a very busy person! Can you tell us about the orchestras you work with?
Right now I have three roles: Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi in Milano, BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales in Cardiff, and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra in America - I'm very happy about that. Conductors reach a stage where they’ll work with regular orchestras that they're familiar with. I think it is ideal for music making because you need some sort of stability with players and environments that you're familiar with. You can anticipate or predict the outcome, a bit more than just with an orchestra you’ve never met. I think it's going to change the way I make music as well.
Xian Zhang performed her inaugural concert as BBC NOW’s Principal Guest Conductor at BBC Hoddinott Hall this week
How do you feel about being the first titled female conductor of a BBC Orchestra?
I feel very honoured. I'm positive that in maybe ten-fifty years, looking at the conductors will be very different. I'm sure that there will be more females.
What advice would you give to young aspiring conductors?
People dream of becoming conductors, but you have to have enough musicality, training, and know you’re music. That's a must, otherwise it becomes a dance; it's not a dance. Musicians know it immediately, they can tell. It's about music. It's not about how good you look on the podium. There has to be some kind of calling or some incident that makes you really want it. If it's happened to you, then great! Pursue it!
Hear Xian Zhang’s inaugural concert as BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ Principal Guest Conductor here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07wrccw
In her first week with BBC NOW, Xian gave a conducting workshop at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
