Conductors and Rehearsal Time

[richardfinegold]

I read an article about Carlos Kleiber recently in which mention was made that he would only accept invitations to conduct if his requirements for rehearsals could be satisfied. When he appeared in Chicago he was allotted twice what was then the norm. He also had sent his own marked Orchestral parts on ahead and was in close contact with Orchestra's management to ensure that the parts had been distributed to the players well in advance of his arrival and that the players had reviewed them. Parenthetically, it was noted that some of the markings were copies that Carlos had of his Father's own markings.
Many other well regarded but idiosyncratic Conductors were known for having requirements for what they regarded as adequate rehearsal time. Two that come to my mind immediately are Celibidache and Jascha Horenstein. Both have become revered figures over time for the uniquenss of their interpretations but were thought to be "difficult" by the Orchestra managements that they dealt with. And in the days of yore taskmasters such as Reiner and Szell were given much more rehearsal time than what Management and Unions generally allow for now. In the U.S.S.R. Mravinsky had a similar reputation and probably didn't have to worry about paying musicians for overtime.
Then there are the Conductors that are known for not rehearsing. Charles Munch and Hans Knappertsbusch would review a few passages and then place a premium on in concert spontaniety. In the superstar jet setting age Ozawa and Gergiev come to mind for their reputations of flying in a few hours before a Concert and "winging it". These Conductors are also known for their dissapointing performances.
Are the great Conductors the ones that are able to have their demands for preparations satisfied? Or is it more asign of greatness if one can make an Orchestra realize a vision with less drilling? Does to much rehearsal lead to staleness and dull playing? Or is it impossible to make generalizations?

[Cockney Sparrow]

I think Semyon Bychkov accepts invitations (at least here in the UK) where sufficient (i.e.more than usual) rehearsal time is agreed. For example he took the chorus rehearsal for the Nov 2013 War Requiem on its own, then a day before performance with all the forces and then the rehearsal on the afternoon of the day of perf in the Royal Albert Hall. I presume his acceptance of the post ("Gunter Wand conducting chair") is on the basis that the BBC Symphony Orchestra can provide the rehearsal time he feels is necessary.

I also know, as you say, from other chorus members in London that Gergiev is not well regarded for cutting it fine, or very fine, before performances...

[DracoM]

Abbado's usual practice was...........??

[pastoralguy]

I remember a story about Gunter Wand being approached by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to conduct Bruckner's 7th.

'I appreciate the invitation but I must insist on six rehearsals', replied Dr. Wand. The orchestra's administrator approached the Board and they approved it saying that a guest conductor wouldn't normally be accorded such a privilege but they were prepared to acquiesce for such a distinguished musician.

On being told the news, Dr. Wand replied 'I forgot to ask who the last person was to conduct the orchestra in this work'. The administrator replied 'that was Sir Georg Solti about 5 years ago'.

'In that case I'll need twelve rehearsals!', replied Dr. Wand.

[Stanfordian]

I remember a story about Gunter Wand being approached by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to conduct Bruckner's 7th.

'I appreciate the invitation but I must insist on six rehearsals', replied Dr. Wand. The orchestra's administrator approached the Board and they approved it saying that a guest conductor wouldn't normally be accorded such a privilege but they were prepared to acquiesce for such a distinguished musician.

On being told the news, Dr. Wand replied 'I forgot to ask who the last person was to conduct the orchestra in this work'. The administrator replied 'that was Sir Georg Solti about 5 years ago'.

'In that case I'll need twelve rehearsals!', replied Dr. Wand.

Hiya pastoralguy, Great story. I love it. Some guest conductors are lucky if they get one rehearsal. Most of the time with many orchestras the bulk of the rehearsing is done by the assistant conductor.

[amateur51]

There's a story exemplifying Knappertsbusch's reluctance to rehearse on this occasion Tchaikovsky symphony no.5. A horn player who was down to play the famous solo in the slow movement for the first time called out "But Maestro, I don't know it!" to which Kna is alleged to have replied "Oh you'll love it - it's wonderful!" and sped off to the racecourse.

I do hope it's true

[teamsaint]

There's a story exemplifying Knappertsbusch's reluctance to rehearse on this occasion Tchaikovsky symphony no.5. A horn player who was down to play the famous solo in the slow movement for the first time called out "But Maestro, I don't know it!" to which Kna is alleged to have replied "Oh you'll love it - it's wonderful!" and sped off to the racecourse.

I do hope it's true

Its very funny, true or not ......as is PGs.

It often seems , and I emphasise "seems" , clear which works in a programme have had the most work.

[Petrushka]

Abbado's usual practice was...........??

.......... to say very little. I sat in on one or two Abbado rehearsals and it was true.

[richardfinegold]

.......... to say very little. I sat in on one or two Abbado rehearsals and it was true.

How much rehearsal time did he usually request?

[Petrushka]

How much rehearsal time did he usually request?

I don't know that, I'm afraid. I sat in on a couple of rehearsals with the LSO in 1981, one of them being Mahler 5 in Venice, and as they'd performed it together often perhaps he didn't need to say much anyway. I took a few photos of the Venice rehearsal which I have somewhere.

[rauschwerk]

Rozhdestvensky was (probably still is) a minimal rehearsal man. I sang Alexander Nevsky for him in the 1960s. He sat in on the piano rehearsal taken by our chorus master. We sang terribly flat but he just made a polite speech of thanks and left. At the only full rehearsal he stopped just once, to get the brass to play one chord louder. The performance was most exciting because we were terrified, though whether it was really polished I can't remember!

[mercia]

He also had sent his own marked Orchestral parts on ahead and was in close contact with Orchestra's management to ensure that the parts had been distributed to the players well in advance of his arrival and that the players had reviewed them.

..... just trying to understand this. So a conductor as well as having his own full score of a work would also have all his own personal orchestral parts ready marked up ? I can see the sense of this, but just trying to understand the practicality of having full personal sets of parts for possibly hundreds of works - presumably not used by anyone else. Or is there a person in a library somewhere busily erasing other conductors' markings ? A full score and complete set of parts for a big orchestral work must cost a fortune (to own personally).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Bernstein also had his own set of scores of the main works that he performed (Beethoven, Mozart, Mahler) - when you command those salaries they're regarded as part of the job "kit".

Less financially rewarded conductors make do with the copies that orchestras have "in house", or hired from publishers. The latter are supposed to have all markings removed before they're returned, but this never happens and much rehearsal time can be spent by the players rubbing out what the last people to play from their parts had written in and replacing them with what the latest conductor asks them to write in instead. Sometimes, these even get remembered and played during the performance!

[Pabmusic]

Rozhdestvensky was (probably still is) a minimal rehearsal man…

Adrian Boult was similar. He espoused under-rehearsing "because players pay more attention in the concert". Vernon Handley once told me (now there's a neat name-drop) that he once attended a Boult rehearsal of standard repertoire that lasted 15 minutes, ending with "Well, ladies and gentlemen, we all know this, don't we? I'll see you at 7.30".

Mark you, Handley did call that 'lazy'.

[mercia]

....... and what's the story about Elgar, Menuhin and the violin concerto ? or is that apocryphal ?