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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000072.txt from 2004/02

From: Jim Katz <jimkatz@-----.ca>
Subj: [DR-L] Re: Conductors behaving badly
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 13:42:35 -0500

Some conductors, indeed some people in every field, seem to think big
egos and throwing your weight around is necessary to establish credibility
and power. A stereotypical 'guy thing' I think. It is sometimes a pleasure
to know a consummate master who does not need to work this way.
I had the pleasure of participating in a lovely concert with such a
conductor last night. Our amateur orchestra - I Medici di McGill Orchestra
of McGill University's Medical School - is conducted by Iwan Edwards,
otherwise the Choral Conductor for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Iwan is
so accomplished in his knowledge and technique, so secure in his power, and
so loved and respected by his musicians that he can be transparently
egoless. The music is the taskmaster and he is the servant. He knows how
to crack the whip and guide firmly when needed, but there is never the sense
of personal petulance or arbitrarily stamping a composer's work with an
'Edwards stamp'.

To paraphrase an old joke, Iwan Edwards is modest because he has so
much to be modest about.

You don't have to act out to get respect.

Jim Katz
Distant Second Bassoon
I Medici di McGill
Physician Orchestra