James Judd, conductor and Music Director Emeritus of the NZSO, considers himself one of the lucky ones.
The disruption of the pandemic may be global, but everyone's story is unique.
He talks to Upbeat ahead of his debut with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and describes what life has been like this past year.
James Judd Photo: Miguel Alonso
For James, he and has family had just sold their house in Florida ahead of a permanent move to Aotearoa, when the world began to gradually lockdown.
He has since spent much of his time in South Korea with the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra and they had one of their first performances a month ago, an important milestone.
Despite playing to a theatre at half-capacity, James says both the audience and musicians were just grateful to experience the orchestra again.
"There is a huge appetite for it."
The conductor has only recently left managed isolation in New Zealand. Between here and South Korea he has spent 12 weeks in quarantine in the past year. But it is all worth it.
"At the end of it we are lucky enough to be able to make music.
"Music is all about sharing and playing for people and communicating with one another. Bringing the world together."
James is conducting the APO in Smetana's Má Vlast (My Country), Thursday August 12.
"It's an extraordinarily beautiful work to perform," he tells host David Morriss.
The nationalism that runs through the seven symphonic poems is all about celebrating the history and beauty of your country.
"There is a lovely symphonic relationship, an emotion that is shared. One movement flows so easily into another."
Listen as James unravels the story behind each movement and paints a vivid picture of Smetana's compositions. The third poem, Sarka, is a particular favourite. A woman spurned in love hatches a plan to exact revenge on all men.
"There is a lot of drama," he says.
Music details:
SMETANA: excerpts from Vyšehrad, From Bohemia's Woods & Fields, Vyšehrad & Vltava, from Má Vlast – Czech Phil/ Jiří Bělohlávek
