If my life has a leitmotif, it is probably the fulfilment of silence, which, today in particular, forms an antithesis to thefast pace of our existence.'Involved in a serious car accident, the young Franz Welser-Möst experienced the sound of silence, which was the key that unlocked a completely new way of thinking for the celebrated conductor. Here he takes us with him on a journey through his lifein music and reveals a glimpse of the inner complexities of an opera house and orchestra. He candidly explains how he has continually reinvented himself after a series of setbacks, and that both disasters and triumphs have served to shape and enrich his musical trajectory.This book is a heartfelt appeal for the continued rediscovery of music as well as a convincing alternative to the noise of the world.