The life of a maestro appears glamorous from afar, but seen through the eyes of a conductor with more than one thousand performances on the podium throughout the United States and around the world, it isn't all curtain calls and champagne. We make the choices critical to our success and happiness when we are least able to see the consequences, and it may take the better part of a lifetime to understand where we chose wisely, where we went astray, and where we had more luck than sense. Right Back Where I Started is a musical odyssey of the heart, mind, and spirit, a journey from the innocent Pacific Northwest of the 1960s to China, Slovenia, Italy, Romania, the Middle East, and countless locations in America, crossing paths with the likes of Renee Fleming, Bill Clinton, James Earl Jones, Maya Angelou, and William Shatner. In Maestro Itkin's world, thrilling performances, memorable collaborations, and exotic travel occur in tandem with professional stumbles, difficult choices, and heartbreak, viewed through riveting anecdotes and glimpses into his personal and professional philosophy. But through it all, we never doubt that the music made, the friends acquired, and the lessons learned made it all worthwhile.
