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."

Yet, during his years in charge of the AYO, Comissiona has barely broken a sweat: He has been coping with the heat of big-time performance pressure for over half a century.

During that time he has worked in over 30 countries with many of the world's best-known outfits, including the New York, Berlin and London Philharmonic orchestras, the Boston and San Francisco symphony orchestras and l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

He has held, and in some cases still holds, many top musical posts: music director emeritus of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (the 1999-2000 season marked his 10th year with the VSO) and principal guest conductor of Israel's Jerusalem Symphony and the Georges Enescu Bucharest Philharmonic.

He has also held the post of music director of the American Symphony Orchestra, the Gothenberg Orchestra in Sweden and the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra of Hilversum in the Netherlands, to name a few.

So why a youth orchestra, in Asia, in the height of summer?

"Conductors are not like composers, who can leave a legacy through written music," said the maestro, who was also made musical director of the AYO in 1997. "We give through our life's work. I felt I should share my experience and pass it on to others, to young people. I thought that was important."

The AYO baton was handed over to Comissiona by Yehudi Menuhin, who, together with artistic director Richard Pontzious, founded the AYO in 1989. Since then, he has never looked back.

"I have found it tremendously rewarding at my age, at my stage of experience, to work with young people. It was like an injection of vitamins or new blood," said the Romanian-born Comissiona, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1976.

Experience is certainly something Comissiona is not lacking. Hailing from a musical family, he began playing violin at age 5 and was hired as a violinist by the Romanian State Ensemble while still in his teens. He made his conducting debut at the tender age of 17 and while still in his 20s was named principal conductor of the Romanian State Opera.

Since then he has developed a reputation as being one of the world's most creative and dynamic conductors and a demanding, yet perceptive nurturer of talent.

"My philosophy is to be a very strong hand in a very soft glove, and to persuade . . . that my interpretation (of a piece of music) is valid -- maybe the best," Comissiona said. "But you can't be dictatorial. You must always listen."

That Comissiona applies this philosophy equally to the AYO as he does to the many professional orchestras with which he works is a measure of the regard he has for its 104 members, whose ages range from midteens to early 20s.

"I don't treat them like a youth orchestra but rather as a professional orchestra. I'm tough and serious, but I don't say things like 'You're too young' or close my eyes to mistakes. I expect them to be prepared and able, because they are able."

Competition for places in the AYO is tough, with over 20 performers auditioned throughout the region for each place on the orchestra, Comissiona said.

Successful members -- who this year represented 11 Asian nations, including Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan -- attend a three-week rehearsal camp at the AYO headquarters in Hong Kong before embarking on a three-week tour throughout the Asia-Pacific region, North America and Europe.

"The AYO is a very good family. Some of (the nations represented) may not be on the best terms . . . but here they all speak the same language: music," Comissiona said.

"It's very touching to see Chinese and Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean sitting side by side. Like the message of Beethoven: 'Everyone is brother,' " he added.

One of the highlights for the members, Comissiona added, is the chance to perform with some of the world's most reputed soloists, who have included the likes of cellists Julian Lloyd Webber and Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Gidon Kremer. This year's program feature's Taiwan-born violinist Cho-liang Lin.

"Some of (the soloists) come here and think, 'It's just a youth orchestra.' Then they quickly realize the rich talents of these young people. They are impressed and try to help."

This attitude is reflected in the soloists' after-hours duties, when they often give master classes, Comissiona added. "(The orchestra members) are like a sponge, very receptive. Wonderful to work with."

Comissiona himself has committed himself to advising the orchestra members well after the tour is over.

"I still get letters from former members asking me for advice, not just professionally," he said. "I've become a kind of grandfather figure, or father figure.

"Yes, father figure," he smiled. "I prefer that."