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American vs. European conductors

Author: Alphie
Date: 2006-10-10 23:00

I expect to be badly grilled for this topic but I have been wondering over this for a long time: Why is there such a specific difference between American and European conductors?

American conductors are usually extremely skilled and professional. They have all the tools in the box and know all the mechanics to deliver a superb result from the orchestra usually with a lot of energy. But I never get the hairs standing up because I miss something; maybe it’s the poetry inside the music.

European conductors on the other hand are often more unpredictable. They have often developed a very personal style that can take some time to come to terms with for the musicians. They usually have a very close personal relation to the music that they want to come across and sometimes it doesn’t. But when the communication is on top it’s usually pure magic.

In two weeks time we’re doing Shostakovich's Leningrad symphony with Leonard Slatkin who I admire a lot. I played it a few years ago with a maybe less famous Russian conductor but who as a young boy was sent by train from Leningrad shortly before the Germans arrived. The train broke and he had to walk back to Leningrad only to find the city in flames. Shostakovich always wanted him to tell that story every time they met. His performance of this piece was as you may understand extremely emotional. It shall be interesting to see if there are any major differences in approach.

Alphie

Post Edited (2006-10-10 23:39)

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