Paul Dyer talks to Limelight about his upcoming debut with WASO and the art of performing Baroque repertoire with a modern orchestra.

You’ll be making your debut with WASO this month – what are the challenges of working with an orchestra for the first time?

The Brandenburg musicians know my language and gestures. They know me well and can easily interpret what I want. The big challenge is for me to appreciate and learn some of WASO’s “house” style, while encouraging the musicians to meet me half-way in the rehearsal process. It is a challenge but an exciting part of the music making.

 

Unlike your own Brandenburg Orchestra, the WASO Chamber Players is not a period ensemble. How is this different? Any difficulties adapting?

We’ll be interpreting and playing Baroque music on modern instruments and at modern pitch. There are technical differences which will open up a huge kaleidoscope of sounds for them to enjoy such as a different use of vibrato and bowing. It will be a new way of working for some of them. Early music ensembles also don’t use conductors, so I will lead from the harpsichord rather than using a baton. I use my face and my...