First of all, I of course get acquainted with the piece in question; even if it is a familiar one, giving it another listen never hurts. There are several conductors whose perception of music appeals to me, so I am always eager to hear their version. The only way to form your own opinion on a piece of music is to do deep research and study the details. Even if I disagree with how the piece is played in the recording, it gives me food for thought and might provide a few ideas. Later, during rehearsals, maestro brings his own vision to life. The result we all aim for can only be achieved if each of us is individually prepared. Knowing the history of the piece is important: very often, the composer conveys real-life events and emotions through the music.

For certain kinds of music, they probably should — particularly if we are talking about modern music. Without preparation, the audience might perceive some of it as little more than random sounds. But read the annotation, and you will learn why exotic instruments are used, what ideas are conveyed through sound effects, and why it all should sound exactly like it does.

For me, that would be civil aviation — my second essential passion in life. I regularly pilot a Yak-18t with my instructor and hope to get a pilot’s license.