Post by Admin on Mar 9, 2016 8:04:53 GMT
The popular view of the conductor of our times seems to favour a high degree of (mostly unhelpful) physical activity combined with passionate feelings about music – which are expressed only verbally, and, irrespective of the location, ideally in a foreign accent.
When added to an intrinsic capacity for big hair and a dash of mystic promise, these qualities apparently comprise something referred to as “charisma” but, although the results may suffice to excite an audience pumped on media hype, they do not actually fool anyone who understands that the reality of effective conducting is somewhat different, least of all those who actually have to make the sounds.
Maximising the value of the skills and motivation of these people is crucial to achieving real success. Certainly charisma plays its part but it must surely arise from the kind of personality willing to first serve the music and then the musicians, plus the inner confidence generated by genuine expertise – rather than the kind of ego which is comfortable about putting the needs of both the music and the musicians subservient to inferior musical and technical understanding on the part of the conductor.
When added to an intrinsic capacity for big hair and a dash of mystic promise, these qualities apparently comprise something referred to as “charisma” but, although the results may suffice to excite an audience pumped on media hype, they do not actually fool anyone who understands that the reality of effective conducting is somewhat different, least of all those who actually have to make the sounds.
Maximising the value of the skills and motivation of these people is crucial to achieving real success. Certainly charisma plays its part but it must surely arise from the kind of personality willing to first serve the music and then the musicians, plus the inner confidence generated by genuine expertise – rather than the kind of ego which is comfortable about putting the needs of both the music and the musicians subservient to inferior musical and technical understanding on the part of the conductor.