Picking up the baton

[Sybarite]

I thought that members might be interested in this article from today's UK Guardian about female conductors.

At least now I know why I'd never make it as a conductor.

[rojo]

Hi Sybarite,

Interesting article.

I think it takes someone with a particular personality or 'persona' to be a conductor. Someone who can command respect, be it man or woman. The background of the person can be important as well. For example, a woman with a reputation as a top notch musician might stand a chance. Maybe.

I find it funny that music by a particular composer can be referred to with gender terms. I really don`t think of music as having a gender at all. At least, I don`t think about it`s 'gender' while I`m listening to it; it doesn`t matter. It`s music. But maybe that`s just me.

Anyway, leadership roles still go mainly to men these days, in politics, on the classical music scene and elsewhere. Some women will succeed, but it surely won`t be easy for them. I guess in certain parts of the world, it will be easier than in others as well.

[Krummhorn]

Hi Sybarite,

I really enjoyed reading the article ... and come to think of it, I've only seen one orchestral concert conducted by a woman in my life. It is unfortunate that society doesn't offer this chance to the females ... in my way of thinking, men and women should be equals in the music community, in their own respective venues.

It's not just you, Rojo, I totally agree with your viewpoint on music being 'genderless' whether I am listening, playing or composing ... the thought that music was otherwise never entered my thought process.

[AeroScore]

Here in the States (especially in the filmmusic medium) all it takes are some letters after your name. In my experience, talent has nothing to do with it, really.

Shirley Walker does a lot of work conducting movie orchestras in Hollywood, for Danny Elfman and others.

[rojo]

Hi Aeroscore,

Who said anything about talent?

I`m not really sure the letters after the name are really all it takes; I would think that there are folks with the letters, but without a position...

[Krummhorn]

. . . . . all it takes are some letters after your name. In my experience, talent has nothing to do with it, really.

Imho, talent has lots to do with it. An endless string of letters tagged onto ones surname doesn't always mean that they are qualified in all aspects of music performance. There are exceptions, of course, and I'm certainly not being critical of anyone who has endured years of education and have become very talented and gifted educators and/or musicians.

I don't have the fancy scrolly papers hanging on my wall, but I have talent; talent gained from decades of practical experience, something that no textbook could have ever prepared me for.

On the other side of the coin, I've witnessed situations, in my profession, where someone has music degrees up the wazoo and yet not able to play themselves out of a wet paper bag.

[zlya]

Ships are generally thought of as female, but men can be captains.
Sportscars are often female, but men can be drivers.

Given this, I should think women would be better at conducting male music.

A few years ago, the conductor of my local symphony orchestra was a woman. Can't remember her name, but I do remember that she showed up to every concert in a tuxedo which seemed four sizes too big for her, and that she was absolutely fantastic. She lept all about the podium, so we spent half the concert worrying that she'd fall off.

[Nullifidian]

Karen Keltner was the conductor of many productions at the San Diego Opera when I was there, both as part of the audience and chorus member, and she did very well. I remember our production of Streetcar Named Desire by Andre Previn which I thought brought out the orchestral colors far better than even Previn himself managed on the CD I'd heard.