Penny James: You spent the first 10 years of your life in Africa, where your Swiss parents worked as missionaries, before moving to Geneva. What were your first experiences of music and what made you realise that you had discovered something you loved?
Thierry Fischer: My first experiences of music were the sound of African women's voices, especially in celebration.
When I was a teenager I didn't really know what to do in my life. Suddenly I realised that sounds could give me a kind of hope - I remember very well just making a decision, saying to myself "I will be a musician". Making music was something very special for my own energies and my own way of dealing with sadness or happiness.
PJ: What were your thoughts when you were invited to become principal conductor?
TF: Relations between a conductor and an orchestra are very special. All is based on chemistry between the energies of the band and how you control and inspire the group. From the very first time I came here, and I remember it well, I said to myself "this could work with them".
PJ: What is your vision for your time with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales?
TF: My biggest hope is to open the concerts to a younger public, young people in their 20s and 30s. I believe strongly in the power of music and in the energy in the sounds - like the wind, you cannot touch it, but you are touched physically by it.
I think music can help us to be a lot more creative, positive and constructive, especially in this very difficult beginning to the 21st century.
Music belongs to everybody not to just one particular age group. My ambition is to pull all the forces together so people will all come to be inspired by the strength of classical music.
I love doing pre-concert talks. People think that conductors have to concentrate before the concert and be quiet but actually it isn't true at all. You have to be in the energy of the music. I hope my enthusiasm will help people to spread the word and help people enjoy the concerts.
PJ: What else inspires Thierry Fischer? What other loves are there in your life apart from music?
TF: I couldn't be who I am without my family. I have a great wife and three fantastic boys. I am a runner and do marathons. I also to love watching all kinds of sport especially football - it is the only artform that you don't know the end. I love it!
My biggest ambition is to keep as happy as I am. I can be a good musician only if I have a good life, and only have a good life if I am able to have a musician's life to my own satisfaction. I realise what a privilege it is to be a conductor, and want to be able to share this with both my family and the people I work with.
