Conductor Charles Mackerras has been racking up awards. There’s a reason, writes Rupert Christiansen: “He is the most purposeful of conductors: a Mackerras performance invariably has energy, pace, bounce, clarity, shape. With his unique gift for getting music moving, he puts singers as well as orchestras on their toes – there’s no slacking under his baton, no empty sentimentality or self-indulgence.”