'Incompetent' Conductors

[french frank]

Not too keen on negative threads either but don't you think this one just cries out for the return of Cellini?!

Abracadabra!

(He's now Ariosto but clearly is busy today )

[StephenO]

Abracadabra!

Magic! Thanks, Dumbledore.

[doversoul1]

I didn’t think this was meant to be a negative thread. Mandryka didn’t ask in the OP to name the conductors whom the members thought incompetent. I thought he asked what made a conductor ‘didn’t work’ with some orchestras.

Ariosto
If you are contributing to this thread, do keep your new spots. They are so much nicer.

[johnb]

Ariosto
If you are contributing to this thread, do keep your new spots. They are so much nicer.

Well - I've always enjoyed Ariosto's contributions, however his spots are doing.

[salymap]

I used to travel to the RAH morning rehearsals on a no 9 bus from Charing Cross quite often. To help the librarian, rather than play in the orchestra. There were always five or six musicians airing their views on whoever was in charge that day.Wild horses, etc wouldn't get me to name the players or orchestra but, boy, the things they would like to do to X,Y or Z.Some orchestral players are like that, only a few but they then infect the others if a rehearsal is not going well. Trumpet players are the worst. Enough.

[amateur51]

Trumpet players are the worst.

You're telling me, salymap!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5awnuQfxdPk

[umslopogaas]

The New York Philharmonic are apparently legendary in their contempt for conductors, with the possible exceptions of Bruno Walter and Leonard Bernstein. I've always liked this quote (from Chambers Music Quotations):

[When Artur Rodzinski asked the NYPO if they had any suggestions for improving the performance of a Mahler symphony]:
"Yep. Send for Bruno Walter."

[Mandryka]

The New York Philharmonic are apparently legendary in their contempt for conductors, with the possible exceptions of Bruno Walter and Leonard Bernstein. I've always liked this quote (from Chambers Music Quotations):

[When Artur Rodzinski asked the NYPO if they had any suggestions for improving the performance of a Mahler symphony]:
"Yep. Send for Bruno Walter."

Classic NYPO hard-headed wit!

I also like the famous riposte to Klemperer: 'Klemps, you talka-too much.'

Apparently, the VPO cancelled Sinopoli's contract after they'd become convinced that he'd lost his place in the score during a concert. In London, Sinopoli's predilection for asking his musicians to 'psychanalyse' a composer's intentions earned him much derision, though his DG contract made the Philharmonia so much money that no one had the guts to object.

I'm inclined to agree with the comment upthread about 'truly' incompetent conductors disappearing very quickly. Hst, I've sat through some performances by the aforementioned Simone Young where I've heard truly unique interpretations of scores I thought I knew well.....

[Mr Pee]

Mandryka

I think you're way ahead of me in the offensive stakes :)

Way ahead of everybody........probably even me.....and that's saying something.........

[Mandryka]

Way ahead of everybody........probably even me.....and that's saying something.........

Oh, I dunno about that, Mr.P....I've yet to have a posting edited by a moderator because of 'personal abuse' directed at another member.

Hst, despite your rather vexed feelings toward me, I'm glad to have you around: right-wingers on classical music forums are rarer than four leaf clovers.

[Panjandrum]

I've said my bit. These negative threads are a bore (to me, at least).

I'm afraid all these sanctimonious types are a bore to me. If you don't like a thread why not keep your views to yourself like a good chap.

[Ariosto]

I seem to be in demand today! I'm afraid I was entertaining guests so I did not see this thread.

As you all know I love conductors and won't have a word said against them. But of course I wouldn't try and stop most from self harm ...

I'm told by some of my colleagues that most of 'em are pretty incompetent - but what do I know, I can't judge. I did see one on TV late tonight as I watched play it again Sam, the concert with Midori, and all my friends tell me he's the biggest joke to hit the rostrum since ... well who, I don't know.

But I think they are having me on because he looks like a nice young chappie, and I appreciate his being able to grin all the time, and he bends his legs beautifully.

No, conductor bashing is not nice, and I think you should all be ashamed of yourselves. (After all, they never made it as performers, so giving them a stick and not letting them make a sound is only to be applauded, as they can't really do much harm, and nobody dies). (Unless it's of boredom).

[Ariosto]

Ariosto
If you are contributing to this thread, do keep your new spots. They are so much nicer.

This has given me an idea, we could have a competition called "spot the conductor" - just for the Proms.

Has anyone spotted one yet? keep looking, one must turn up soon!!

P.S.

I misread the thread title and thought it said "Incontinent Conductors" There are plenty of those about ...

[LHC]

Apparently, the VPO cancelled Sinopoli's contract after they'd become convinced that he'd lost his place in the score during a concert. In London, Sinopoli's predilection for asking his musicians to 'psychanalyse' a composer's intentions earned him much derision, though his DG contract made the Philharmonia so much money that no one had the guts to object.

You are Norman Lebrecht and I claim my remaindered copy of your last book.

[Mandryka]

You are Norman Lebrecht and I claim my remaindered copy of your last book.

That's the single worst thing anyone has ever said to me.