I had a nice talk with an old bass-player buddy today, Tony Alcock - he's the leader of the bass section in the City of Birmingham SO

https://cbso.co.uk/about-us/the-orchestra

We talked about how mean and aggressive conductors are no longer being accepted by orchestras, and how conductors are mellowing out. Orchestras play music for a living and there's no reason why they shouldn't be happy doing it and during performances.

Tony was enthusiastic about their new Japanese conductor Kazuki Yamada who is very positive and smiles a lot. Hopefully one of a new breed.

"Very positive and smiles a lot". Sounds like a babysitter.

Bruce Kling schrieb am Montag, 31. Juli 2023 um 19:16:02 UTC+2:
> "Very positive and smiles a lot". Sounds like a babysitter.

A good babysitter is ofc sth else, but that's what Andy, Herman and Gerard and all the wokies long for... people like Dalai Lama...

Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:35:38 UTC+2:
> Bruce Kling schrieb am Montag, 31. Juli 2023 um 19:16:02 UTC+2:
> > "Very positive and smiles a lot". Sounds like a babysitter.
> A good babysitter is ofc sth else, but that's what Andy, Herman and Gerard and all the wokies long for... people like Dalai Lama...

*"that's" as in "what you are implying is"

Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:37:35 UTC+2:
> Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:35:38 UTC+2:
> > Bruce Kling schrieb am Montag, 31. Juli 2023 um 19:16:02 UTC+2:
> > > "Very positive and smiles a lot". Sounds like a babysitter.
> > A good babysitter is ofc sth else, but that's what Andy, Herman and Gerard and all the wokies long for... people like Dalai Lama...
> *"that's" as in "what you are implying is"

What they do not want is Frank telling them what idiots they are; what they do want is a man proclaiming himself to be a woman - Cheregi - telling them "Listen, I am a Jew and my parents live in Israel, and you are totally right, the IDF is a killing machine and Begin was a fascist"... oh lord...

Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:42:08 UTC+2:
> Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:37:35 UTC+2:
> > Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:35:38 UTC+2:
> > > Bruce Kling schrieb am Montag, 31. Juli 2023 um 19:16:02 UTC+2:
> > > > "Very positive and smiles a lot". Sounds like a babysitter.
> > > A good babysitter is ofc sth else, but that's what Andy, Herman and Gerard and all the wokies long for... people like Dalai Lama...
> > *"that's" as in "what you are implying is"
> What they do not want is Frank telling them what idiots they are; what they do want is a man proclaiming himself to be a woman - Cheregi - telling them "Listen, I am a Jew and my parents live in Israel, and you are totally right, the IDF is a killing machine and Begin was a fascist"... oh lord...

And just to avoid misunderstandings: "Killing machine" not in a positive fashion, but as in: "The IDF kills Palestinian children" or "The IDF kills innocent people on purpose" or whatever...

Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:45:26 UTC+2:
> Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:42:08 UTC+2:
> > Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:37:35 UTC+2:
> > > Marc S schrieb am Dienstag, 1. August 2023 um 13:35:38 UTC+2:
> > > > Bruce Kling schrieb am Montag, 31. Juli 2023 um 19:16:02 UTC+2:
> > > > > "Very positive and smiles a lot". Sounds like a babysitter.
> > > > A good babysitter is ofc sth else, but that's what Andy, Herman and Gerard and all the wokies long for... people like Dalai Lama...
> > > *"that's" as in "what you are implying is"
> > What they do not want is Frank telling them what idiots they are; what they do want is a man proclaiming himself to be a woman - Cheregi - telling them "Listen, I am a Jew and my parents live in Israel, and you are totally right, the IDF is a killing machine and Begin was a fascist"... oh lord....
> And just to avoid misunderstandings: "Killing machine" not in a positive fashion, but as in: "The IDF kills Palestinian children" or "The IDF kills innocent people on purpose" or whatever...

Cheregi is ofc also looking for bad babysitters: "It's totally fine dude that you feel like a woman and think you are a woman." This is what he wants to hear...

sure enough he doesn't want to be told the truth: that he is a poor human being who has alienated himself from his true nature in a very bad way...

he wants to be a lifelong patient dependant on hormones with dangerous side effects... well, the medical industry will be happy for sure...

Another country heard from.

On Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 3:16:02 AM UTC+10, Bruce Kling wrote:
> "Very positive and smiles a lot". Sounds like a babysitter.

If you'd prefer to play for a Reiner or a Szell, OK, but I believe 40% of one American orchestra was receiving psychiatric attention as a consequence of playing for one of these gentlemen. I believe Jiggy has his moments too but not quite to the same extent.

The Age of the Heldendirigent is possibly over.

Andrew Clarke
Canberra

On Tuesday, 1 August 2023 at 13:30:44 UTC+1, Andrew Clarke wrote:
> On Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 3:16:02 AM UTC+10, Bruce Kling wrote:
> > "Very positive and smiles a lot". Sounds like a babysitter.
> If you'd prefer to play for a Reiner or a Szell, OK, but I believe 40% of one American orchestra was receiving psychiatric attention as a consequence of playing for one of these gentlemen. I believe Jiggy has his moments too but not quite to the same extent.
>
> The Age of the Heldendirigent is possibly over.
> Andrew Clarke > Canberra

No more Screaming Skulls, hopefully....

On
> >
> > The Age of the Heldendirigent is possibly over.
>

These stories about dictatorial conductors are invariably from another era when orchestras were quite different. Today's orchestras are composed of highly professional musicians with hefty degrees. Most orchestras can play their Beethoven symphonies without a conductor, just watching their section leader etc. Also, virtually no conductor is with the same orchestra all year. Most conductors do a lot of guesting.
So the whole balance has changed.
Also, many of those oft iterated stories about outrageous conductor - orchestra communication are largely made-up.
Today it's about cooperation, listening to each other. Not too much talking.. A screaming conductor will not be invited back. Good manners make for better music making.