The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2003-03-17 17:24
The picture of Dutoit on the CD cover of Daphnis et Chloe is worth a thousand words---- the performance seems to have truly transported him to another place and time. I assume the musicians felt he motivated them to such a high level of performance. What other conductors are capable of this, in the opininon of BB readers? Is the conductor crucial to the process of creating a transcendent performance?
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Author: vin
Date: 2003-03-17 18:07
Carlos Kleiber, while he has an extremely limited repertoire and is now "retired" (and somewhat of a vegetable wandering around Munich), is revered by musicians he was worked with. Many musicians in the MET Orchestra (where he conducted about 3 operas in the late 80s) consider his performances there as one of the highlights of their musical career. His DVDs, such as Brahms 2 with Vienna, and CDs (Brahms 4, Beethoven 5+7, Mozart 40, Beethoven 4) are mezmerizing in their emotional intensity, unity of ensemble, intonation, etc. etc.. As he has not conducted much since the 80s, never wanted to be a musical director anywhere (he demands a lot of rehearsals and "only conducts when [he] is hungry") and is a bit of a kook (indeed, he was notorious for walking out of rehearsals when he thought the musicians were making fun of him(just the opposite)), he is not that well known in some circles, but his conducting is amazingly expressive and draws the most out of the players. When making suggestions outside of rehearsals, he would send them little elaborately folded notes that he placed on their stand with helpful, detailed advice (they are referred to behind his back as "Kleiber-grams"). A must listen/see for anyone.
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Author: HAT
Date: 2003-03-18 01:57
Don't forget that no conductor, no matter how great he or she is, ever made any music without the players. . .
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-03-18 13:17
Having worked under Charles Dutiot I can honestly say I found him to be one of the most difficult conductors to follow...on top of that the MSO was treated very badly by him...a number of players in the orchestra felt he was tyrannical and hence the reason for his recent departure from the MSO ...having a few close freinds who I have worked with in this orchestra also feel the same way. My work under him was in Paris in 87 with the Paris Conservatoire orchestra performing Honneger and Milhaud. He has a very difficult down beat to follow and is very harsh towards players....that being said I also think he is a musical genius and now that he is permanent conductor of Orchestre National de France, they have a real gem in their organization.
David Dow
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Author: Stéphane
Date: 2003-03-19 08:51
David,
Charles Dutoit was permanent conductor of the ONF until June 2001. The present conductor is now Kurt Masur, another great musician.
Stéphane.
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