Excerpt from Interview with Maestro Eric Jacobsen about working with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

 

William Ford: I saw you conduct the Atlanta Symphony with Yo-Yo Ma. I’ve never seen anyone conduct with so much joy on their face. I kept wondering, is he joyful because it’s the Atlanta Symphony? Is it because Yo-Yo Ma is there? Or is it because he just loves conducting in general? So, I figured you could help clarify that for me. Do you always conduct with such joy on your face?

Eric Jacobsen: That’s a great question. I really, truly love what I do. There’s no question about that. And with an orchestra like the Atlanta Symphony—made up of some of the most incredible musicians I’ve ever met—it’s hard not to feel joyful. Their artistry, virtuosity, thought-provoking conversations, generosity, and warmth—it all creates this sense of being embraced by a remarkable group of people. That alone is something to be joyful about.

Then, there’s the music itself. Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony and Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto are inherently joyous pieces. Of course, Haydn’s second movement is more introspective and thought-provoking than overtly joyous. And in Dvořák’s symphony, the second movement has moments of shading and darkness, but overall, it’s such an embracing and uplifting work. So yes, the music contributes to that feeling of joy as well.

But maybe the biggest thing is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Watching children play, I’ve realized that, as adults, we often lose that sense of play. Sure, we might have a board game night, a round of charades, or something fun during the holidays with family and friends. But musicians are unique—we grow up, but we don’t grow out of playing. On stage, in rehearsals, and even when thinking about music, we get to channel that same sense of play we had as children.

Yo-Yo Ma, who has been a mentor to me for years, embodies that sense of joyous play. He’s someone who is constantly acting, playing, and finding new colors to communicate with his colleagues on stage and the audience. He’s an extraordinary influence and an incredible example of what it means to truly be in the moment.

So, to answer your question: yes, it’s the Atlanta Symphony. Yes, it’s the music. And yes, it’s the fact that, as musicians, we get to be children again and just play. All of that is why it feels so good and so special.