Comments on: Waving the Magic Wand

By: Bill Eddins

Bill Eddins — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:32:28 +0000

I think “Obi-Wan.” “Yoda” would be presumptuous even for a conductor.

wfe

By: wahoofive

wahoofive — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:19:36 +0000

Bad news. The customer is the audience; the system is set up to please audiences, not musicians. Successful conductors are those who look good in pictures, can charm the press, pick repertoire the audience can tap their toes to, and pack the house. Whether they can make music is almost irrelevant.

By: Sandy M

Sandy M — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:08:18 +0000

Bill, inquiring minds want to know: is your codename “Yoda” or “Obi Wan”?!

By: Larry Fried

Larry Fried — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:11:50 +0000

Leonard Slatkin tells the story of what his teacher once said to him: “When you’re standing on that podium, always remember one thing. Eighty per cent of those musicians think they can conduct better than you. The other twenty per cent probably can.”