On Friday, 17 February 2023 at 22:52:50 UTC+11, Notsure01 wrote:
On 2/16/23 9:57 PM, raymond....gmail.com wrote:
https://youtu.be/smKXYSEI9MY
Seriously, Yuri Simonov shows here a musicality the present bunch of hopefuls can only guess at. Worth watching for his performance alone.
Ray Hall, Taree
Ray, thanks for sharing two interesting videos. Both Simonov and
Nishimoto have a vigorous way of conducting that seems to be less common.
Over the years I've frequently heard the comment "the musicians are not
even looking at the conductor!" so how much do those gestures really accomplish? The real work is probably done in rehearsals - the gestures
are for the audience? I'm not a musician so wonder about people's thoughts...
This video clearly shows that the orchestra are too busy looking at their music sheets, and playing. Clearly 95% of the work is done in rehearsal. In any case, I am sure for most good orchestras that a conductor isn't essential to play most pieces very
competently. But is competence enough? The musicians in good orchestras have already proved their competence or they wouldn't be holding their positions. They listen to each other, and it is true that conductor-less orchestras like the Orpheus are
successful. But this doesn't do it for me.
Where the conductor comes in, is in presenting a unique musical vision as seen by one person. A sole point of contact, a focus, for better or for worse. It could even be said that there are a few too many conductors who act detrimentally on the final
result, and it is only when you get a master conductor, that musical sparks can fly.
Simonov is one of the better conductors and he often clowns around showing off, especially in the lighter pieces. His musicality is clearly evident at least to me. He has recorded a heap of stuff with the RPO and especially a very good Mahler 1st.
Ray Hall, Taree
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