It’s impossible not to fall in love with Klaus Mäkelä. He has a sparkle in his eyes, extraordinary musical talent, and strives for perfection – driven not by narcissism but out of his love for music, which he conveys to the orchestra he conducts and to the public. By age 27, Mäkelä was the musical director and conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic (a position offered to him after one concert he conducted, at age 22) and of the Orchestre de Paris. He has been offered the coveted position of chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and will be only 31 when he takes on that role.

Archival clips portray a teenage boy with a conductor’s baton in hand; it may seem like he’s playing, but he was conducting even then. This film – which feels like attending an inspiring concert – is a journey into the life of a musical genius. Mäkelä is a charming, humble visionary that many predict will have a great impact on the world of music in the 21st century.

News just in, April 1st: Mäkelä will be the musical director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, too.