Friday, October 23, 2009

Fantastic TED talk on conducting and leadership

A fantastic viewing and commentary on great conductors.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really love this-information given that can really expand your musical horizon, but it's entertaining, and comes from a place of love for music. Passion that doesn't have to be overacted to "SHOW" us it's there, because if it's there, it's obvious and sincere. A fabulous lesson about intent, communication and leadership.-Nancy

Dr. Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk said...

What a wonderful presentation! It's curious for me to hear what he had to say about both Muti and Bernstein, both of whom I sang with. Interestingly, I never felt that Muti controlled the singers or the orchestra in a tyrannical way, and in fact, the players in Philly Orchestra would play into their break time if it meant completing a musical thought. Most professional players wouldn't violate union rules to do that, but I got the sense the orchestra would follow him off the end of the earth, and I know those of us in the choir would have.

Then there's Lenny. He did truly give it away, and what a beautiful way to end the talk with the Haydn Sym. No. 88. Once, he gave it away so much that the last movement of the "Chichester Psalms" actually fell apart for a moment...we didn't know where he was, and we actually needed MORE. But, as a rule he gave it away so beautifully, that an orchestra composed of musicians from Israel, NYC, and Vienna played his overture to "Candide" without a conductor at his memorial service. And they were perfectly together.

Thanks for this! It's real food for thought.

Sadie Awesome said...

when he looks down at the audience, he looks a little like Scott Bakula with a crazy wig on and glasses.

just squint your eyes a bit and tilt your head.

it's totally there.

lyubomyra said...

Yes, wonderful presentation using symphony orchestra and conductor as a metaphor of leadership in a company... Different management styles to get the best result possible... and Carlos Kleiber is the best... enigmatic, mysterious, passionate... and more... by the way in Beethoven 7th its not a trumpet player doing something wrong... but percussion... and yes... Leonard Bernstain is number 2... together with HVK