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Nagano’s early professional years were spent in Boston, working in the opera house and as assistant conductor to Seiji Ozawa at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He played a key role in the world premiere of Messiaen’s opera “Saint François d’Assise” at the request of the composer. Nagano’s success in North America led to numerous European appointments and since 2006; he has been General Music Director of the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich as well as Music Director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal. He is also a much sought-after guest conductor and has worked with many of the world’s finest orchestras including the Vienna, Berlin and New York Philharmonic Orchestras, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Dresdner Staatskapelle and the Russian National Orchestra.

In this week’s Inspired Minds, Kent Nagano talks to Breandáin O’Shea about his musical beginnings, what sort of a broad education he feels musicians need and the responsibility of individuals and institutions to have contemporary works performed regularly.