When Sergiu Comissiona was invited to take over as conductor of the Asian Youth Orchestra in 1993, one of his first concerns was whether he could take the heat.
"This is a season when I was normally conducting in the major festivals of Europe and North America -- Spain, Switzerland . . . places with fresh air," joked the 72-year-old during a recent visit to Japan for the Asia leg of the AYO's annual three-week summer tour.
"Now I have to turn down (such orchestras) and say, 'Sorry, I'm off to perspire in the humidity of Asia.' They think I'm crazy. Well, yes, maybe I am."