Longevity of Conductors

[Petrushka]

The thread on 'Stan' Skrowaczewski performing with the LPO at the age of 91 has me thinking of the longevity of conductors in general.

Surely this is worthy of serious analysis by the medical and scientific establishment with plenty of lessons there for the rest of us?

I know there are some conductors who, for one reason or another have died relatively young (Cantelli, Kertesz for example) but the roll call of those still active well into their 80s or 90s is impressive indeed especially when coupled with the average age span at the time.

All that arm waving and musical analysis must keep the cardio-vascular system and brain in good shape. Have any conductors succumbed to dementia or Alzheimers for instance? (No jokes please).

I think it's worth serious medical study.

[Bryn]

I have no idea whether A Song for Martin had any serious research behind it concerning the plausibility of the plot, but ...

[Petrushka]

I've not heard of that film, let alone seen it, but conductor's mental faculties are generally pin sharp to the end. Most succumb to simple old age or the heart attack.

I know that Otto Klemperer had manic-depression but that was a life-long problem and he lived to the age of 88.

[Stanley Stewart]

Apropos the theme of longevity re conductors, I was most impressed by In Their Own Words: 20th Century Composers, 1912- 1944, BBC 4, Friday, 14 March, 20.00-21,00hrs - Part 2 continues on Frid, 21 March. A few enticing examples of composer/conductors in splendidly restored footage from early last century; Elgar, Stravinsky and, later, Wm Walton. I enjoyed his quip when asked about his 20s work, Facade. He replied with a sigh, "It keeps me."

Next Friday's programme covers 1945-1989, including Britten, Bernstein, Cage, Boulez, Tavener, Reich, Adams and Glass.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I know there are some conductors who, for one reason or another have died relatively young (Cantelli, Kertesz for example)

Kertesz doesn't really enter the equation as he didn't die of natural causes.

But the topic is interesting. Sargent once said he was fit simply because he spent much of his life on the podium waving his arms around.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Kertesz doesn't really enter the equation as he didn't die of natural causes.

And Cantelli does?! !

But the topic is interesting. Sargent once said he was fit simply because he spent much of his life on the podium waving his arms around.

Just be careful of Act Two of Tristan und Isolde!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

And Cantelli does?! !

Ah. Just looked this up. I never knew.

[Petrushka]

Just be careful of Act Two of Tristan und Isolde!

Not sure which two conductors died during Act 2 of Tristan. Was it Keilberth and Krips?

We haven't yet seen a conductor pass the century. I had very high hopes for both Stokowski and Solti but, alas, it wasn't to be. I believe that Stoki had his 100 birthday concert planned.

[EdgeleyRob]

Does anyone else on here, when home alone, conduct?
I use a kniiting needle.
Maybe it's doing me some good.

[Beef Oven!]

Does anyone else on here, when home alone, conduct?
I use a kniiting needle.
Maybe it's doing me some good.

I use a beige plastic chopstick from my local Chinese restaurant.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Not sure which two conductors died during Act 2 of Tristan. Was it Keilberth and Krips?

Keilberth and Mottl, Pet - reputedly in exactly the same place in the score!

Both suffered heart attacks, which seems to be something of an occupational hazard: Sinopoli, van Beinem, Mitropoulos all suffered fatal "conneries" conducting rehearsals.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... and then there was Lully, of course! (Now there's someone who would've been better advised to use a knitting needle or chopstick!)

[Roehre]

...
I know there are some conductors who, for one reason or another have died relatively young (Cantelli, Kertesz for example) ....

Cantelli doesn't enter the equation either, as he was killed in an plane crash.
Van Otterloo didn't survive a car crash

[Roehre]

...We haven't yet seen a conductor pass the century. I had very high hopes for both Stokowski and Solti but, alas, it wasn't to be. I believe that Stoki had his 100 birthday concert planned.

But Monteux (in his eighties) insisted during the negotiations for his (last ) contract with Decca that he had the right to prolong the contract for another 25 years.....

[richardfinegold]

The thread on 'Stan' Skrowaczewski performing with the LPO at the age of 91 has me thinking of the longevity of conductors in general.

Surely this is worthy of serious analysis by the medical and scientific establishment with plenty of lessons there for the rest of us?

I know there are some conductors who, for one reason or another have died relatively young (Cantelli, Kertesz for example) but the roll call of those still active well into their 80s or 90s is impressive indeed especially when coupled with the average age span at the time.

All that arm waving and musical analysis must keep the cardio-vascular system and brain in good shape. Have any conductors succumbed to dementia or Alzheimers for instance? (No jokes please).

I think it's worth serious medical study.

I'm a Physician, and so that question has long been with me as well. I almost addressed it in my reply on the "Stan" thread that you referenced but decided it was somewhat OT.
It does seem that Conductors to be able to continue their careers into advanced old age with greater ease than most instrumentalists, with the possible exception of Pianists, as we can cite many of them that had careers into late old age as well.
I think this is partly due to the physical demands of Conducting, but not for the reasons that you cite, Petrushka. While undoubtedly there is some Cardiovascular benefit to standing on a podium and waving a stick, the Physical act of conducting is less demanding than playing a stringed, brass, or woodwind instrument. And a Conductor is better able to compensate for a Physical disability than an instrumentalist can. Someone cited Klemperer and his bipolar disorder, but of more significance is that he had several strokes many years before he died. He made adjustments in his baton technique and was reportedly a lot less "Physical"--to the point of being nearly immobile on the podium--than he had been prior to his first stroke. An instrumentalist who suffers a stroke probably can't make those kind of adjustments--witness Solomon, for example.
I have taken care of a few musicians and their cases illustrate this. One is a horn player whose respiratory and neurological issues made it impossible to maintain enough force to control his instrument, and ended his career in his mid 60s. Another was a Choral Conductor with advanced Parkinsons Disease. He was able to maintain his position despite having to sit, not being able to speak loud enough to give instructions (he had an assistant by his side who would relay them, somewhat like Stravinsky and Robert Craft) and made other adjustments until his disease just became to advanced (including dementia, which is more common with Parkinsons); an instrumentalist would not have been able prolong his or her career as long.
Singers could probably perform forever but they are subject to deterioration of their vocal cords and diminishment of their respiratory capacities.
Pianists are an interesting Medical breed. Many famous ones have had their careers badly derailed by repetitive use ailments (Leon Fleisher, Gary Graffman, and Murray Perahia are three that come to mind), and yet I have seen both Rubinstein and Horowitz performing in the last six months of their very long lives with their powers barely dimiished.