Self harming Conductors.

Posted by: Stephen H on 21 November 2004

I had the pleasure of seeing Sir Charles Mackerras conducting the CBSO at Symphony Hall last night (Ravel: La Valse and Sheherazade and Berlioz: Syphonie Fantastique)

During the performance he was so animated that he knocked his own glasses off. They landed at the feet of the violinist directly in front of him. The violinist looked a little taken aback, but leaned forward, picked them up and calmly handed them back before they both returned to the fray barely having missed a note.

Has anyone else ever seen any Conducting mishaps?

Regards,
Steve.
Posted on: 21 November 2004 by graham55
The French composer Lully used to mark time when conducting by bashing a lage wooden pole on the ground. Getting carried away on one occasion, he drove the pole through one of his feet. Gangrene set in and he died as a result of his self inflicted injury.

I kid you not.

G
Posted on: 21 November 2004 by Stephen H
Wow! That must take some beating....
Posted on: 21 November 2004 by graham55
Can't claim to have witnessed it personally, especially as it happened in 1687!

G
Posted on: 21 November 2004 by Basil
I think Mariss Jansons must take top honours here, as an extract from an article in the Independent shows.



quote:
He has every reason for trying to take things a little easier. In 1996, while conducting La bohème in Oslo, he suffered cardiac arrest. Further attacks in hospital made the future look very bleak indeed, but after being fitted with a defibrillator he returned to the podium. At first he was cautious but soon realised that he wasn't capable of giving anything less than 100 per cent. And he recalls with a wry chuckle how on one subsequent occasion his heart did actually stop mid-symphony and the defibrillator jumped into action. Jansons jumped too, as his heart was shocked into motion again by a swift electric current. The astonished players didn't know what was going on but no one missed a beat.
Posted on: 22 November 2004 by Stephen H
Thanks for that one Basil.

I've often thought that some conductors look like they're hooked up to the mains, not just a defibrillator. Still, as long as it's a separate spur I'm sure it must sound better....

Regards,
Steve.
Posted on: 22 November 2004 by Nime
I though this was a thread about conductors who had ruined music.

Von "Carryon" gets my vote. Big Grin

Nime