What do conductors do besides wave a baton?
A conductor is the musical equivalent of a stage director. Actors know their parts, but the director is responsible for the overall picture. I have 100 players spread out over a stage, and each knows how to play his instrument better than I. But Player A does not know what B is playing. I bring it all together. The notes on a page are lifeless. I know to what extent each instrument can be pushed to achieve an interpretive goal. Q: Sounds like being a boss. How do you get players to strive for your goal? A: Command is about respect. Even in the days when a CEO could fire someone on the spot because he didn’t like the way he tied his tie, it was still respect that made it happen. The name of the game hasn’t changed. No conductor can accomplish anything worthy of the performance without commanding the respect of players. The only way to do that is to know the musical score and understand the problems they will encounter playing it. Q: Success rides on the respect of subordinates? A: Of co
