Classical Life

8 comments

Do you want to comment?

Comments RSS and TrackBack URI

1. 
   Aunt Laurel

   Yes, ridiculous, but, I have to admit, I watched the whole thing.

   Permalink, Reply

   February 1, 2012 8:22 pm
2. 
   chris

   I wouldn’t say it was ridiculous. I think he really captures the essence of the music he’s conducting. A bit unorthodox, yes, but it fits the music very well. Now, if he were doing this during the B minor mass, that would be a different story!

   Permalink, Reply

   February 2, 2012 10:21 am
   • 
     tmangan

     As miming, yes, it fits the music. But is he giving the musicians what they need? Is he distracting the audience?

     Permalink, Reply

     February 2, 2012 10:25 am
     • 
       chris

       I don’t think it would be distracting for the audience because I don’t think they see much of what he is doing. The performance is fairly solid too. Also, we don’t know how many performances of this he previously did, that may have an effect on what he is doing. Even if it is the first performance, I still think it works in its odd way.

       Permalink, Reply

       February 2, 2012 7:12 pm
3. 
   MarK

   He looks pretty silly of course, but you have to give him credit for the variety and sheer inventiveness of gestures most of which are rather expressive. A good orchestra (and this one does not sound too bad) hardly needs much more “serious conducting” for this kind of music. If the audience is behind him, i don’t think he distracts them all that much. Just like “Aunt Laurel”, i watched the whole thing – and was entertained far more than annoyed – so consider me in complete agreement with “chris”.

   Permalink, Reply

   February 2, 2012 1:41 pm
4. 
   CK Dexter Haven

   The drinking motion and that weird thing he did where he put his fingers on the stand are the two things I didn’t get. The rest of the moves were flamboyant, but I could follow them. How I’d feel about it is another thing.

   If he were a guest conductor and this is the first time he stood on the podium in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face, let along play/sing. It’d be amusing and annoying at the same time.

   If he were my regular conductor, then it’s either the way he conducts all the time (which would be really weird and probably annoying) or he’s hamming it up for whatever reason.

   Permalink, Reply

   February 2, 2012 4:44 pm
   • 
     tmangan

     CK, I think the “fingers on the stand” is him pretending to be at a sound board, sliding levers to make the sound softer and louder.

     Permalink, Reply

     February 2, 2012 4:59 pm
     • 
       CK Dexter Haven

       Ah, thank you. MrsCKDH, CKDH Jr, and I watched it a couple of times and laughed our heads off, but couldn’t figure that one out.

       Permalink, Reply

       February 2, 2012 5:06 pm

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.