"A politician who conducts Beethoven isn't believable," he says with a laugh.

Dedicated to music education, Edwards enjoys conducting Beethoven for youth orchestras.

I didn't conduct Beethoven for two years.

Thus, the argument goes, the historically inclined should conduct Beethoven in a simple style with little tempo inflection.

He edits like a maestro conducting Beethoven, coaxing images and sequences into a state of agitated eloquence.

He used a special baton (conductor's stick) which had jewels in it when he conducted Beethoven.

He also just happens to know a lot about conducting Beethoven.

When I conduct Beethoven," he said, "I wouldn't like to replace Beethoven.

The implications of that question are improper in one sense: anyone, of any nationality, can conduct or play Beethoven well or poorly.

How do you conduct Beethoven in a way that conveys the radicalism of the music without resorting to some attention-grabbing interpretive approach?