By 1981 the young firebrand of earlier years had matured, painfully and painstakingly through many stages to a point when he could reach out both to musicians and public alike and share his own hard-earned experience and his carefully garnered wisdom without the exacting responsibility of being either Musical Director or Chief Conductor of any particular orchestra.

Without relaxing standards, his approach became less driven, more trusting of the moment and without a trace of self indulgence his conducting style eased into something more reflective of what could be achieved by suggestion, rather than simply by demanding results without question. Indeed one might venture to say that he no longer saw himself as being there to provide answers but rather to pose questions, to leave us wondering at the generosity and the sheer delight of sharing music together.