Noteworthy

After a summer tour with the Luxembourg Philharmonic and time spent with family in Sardinia, Gustavo Gimeno returns to Toronto for his fifth season as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. As the season unfolds, he reflects on how music and life are seamlessly connected, sharing personal inspirations, upcoming performances, and a cherished childhood memory that continues to resonate with him. 

See him next on the podium for Fire & Ice: Shostakovich & Sibelius, where he will conduct Sibelius’s First Symphony for the first time, followed by Brilliant Bartók, which will be captured in a live recording.

One of the first moments I remember when music profoundly affected me was as a child, listening to the last movement of Mahler’s First Symphony. My father was studying it, and I found it so moving and overwhelming that I couldn’t process what I was hearing.

For me, it’s not two separate lives; conducting and my personal life are different aspects of the same existence. One life with different facets—I don’t see a division between my work and personal time.

I draw inspiration from observing people in the streets, the work of other artists, and even an inspiring post on social media. Small everyday moments.

Beauty, for me, isn’t always the cliché. It can be direct, rough, and unexpected—not necessarily what is traditionally seen as beautiful. Beauty is something expressive that touches me, and it can manifest in many different ways.

My intuition is quite dominant and fast, guiding me through decisions quickly. When dilemmas arise, I usually find a path without dwelling too long on them.

You cannot quantify it, but I think art, in general, and music, specifically, speaks to our soul in an immediate, direct way. It connects us with certain feelings of our existence, of who we are. It puts us in context, bringing out the good things we have in ourselves more easily. Music does something to the way we feel, and therefore, how we think and act.

Silence is very valuable to me, especially these days. 

Like intuition or analysis, mindfulness or reflection is ongoing for me—it’s always present. Even when I jog, my mind continues reflecting. It’s not something I can switch off, but rather, it’s a constant process that integrates with everything I do.

Sibelius’s First Symphony is a piece of music I’ve never performed but will be conducting with the TSO this season. I’m looking forward to it.

Happiness is being calm and surrounded by people you like, love, and admire, and who make you feel good. 

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is a book that made a significant impact on me. It’s a bit of a cliché, at least in Spain and Italy.

After a busy day, I find that enjoying a good meal and a glass of wine with someone I’m comfortable with is the perfect way to relax. After a performance, I have a beer.  

My creative process can be summed up in one word—preparation. It’s the foundation that allows me to be spontaneous and intuitive in the moment.

Working with others—fascinating people, personalities, and human beings—experiencing what we can create together is what I love most about my craft. I do it because I love it, simply put.

There’s a particular sound of silence in the mountains of the Italian countryside that I find inspiring and calming. It’s something I don’t encounter often, being a city person who travels regularly. My daughter laughing—I love that sound too. 

Discover where music and life intersect in Intermezzo as we bring you closer to the artists who shape the TSO experience. Keep an eye out for more of these insightful conversations.