Maestro has an ongoing theme of contrasts, including the differences between Paul's mother and father; Vienna and Darwin; high culture vs. low culture; and the contrast of Paul as an adolescent and Paul as an adult.
The maestro, Eduard Keller, lost his family during The Holocaust, despite performing private concerts for Adolf Hitler in the belief that he would spare Keller's Jewish family. For Keller, the grand piano is his sanctity and security, helping him deal with the horrors of the world "safe beneath that grand piano", and likewise offering him a way of deconstructing life. As Paul matures, Keller's phrasings, which seemed absurd in adolescence, ossify into a "musical bible whose texts I knew by heart"..
Maestro has themes of adolescence and growing up. Paul is educated about life through music and Keller's experiences in Vienna and understanding of human nature. The book tracks Paul as he develops into a responsible, mature man from an obnoxious, egotistical teenager.
