How hearing German romantic opera Der Freischütz changed the life and career direction of a Hong Kong-born conductor

Perry So Pak-hin, a Hong Kong-born conductor who resides in the United States, shared a transformative experience he had with a German romantic opera called 'Der Freischütz'. This opera, composed by Carl Maria von Weber and first performed in 1821, is a love story filled with pastoral, folkloric, and supernatural elements. Perry first encountered this opera when he was 18 years old, studying at Yale. During a voice lesson, a soprano sang an aria from 'Der Freischütz', sparking Perry's interest. Intrigued, Perry went to the music library to listen to the entire opera. He was astounded by the power of the orchestra's sound and the drama conveyed solely through music. This experience was a revelation for Perry. He realized that music, like literature, has the capacity to evoke history and ideas. This realization led him to reconsider his career path. Initially, Perry thought he would major in English or comparative literature at Yale. However, after his encounter with 'Der Freischütz', he decided to pursue a career as a conductor. Perry admired the conductor's role in shaping the music and the intellectual aspect of the job. He was inspired by the recording of 'Der Freischütz' he listened to, considering it a benchmark for musicians. Even after 50 years, Perry finds the recording as fresh and inspiring as ever.