Most Over-the-Top Conductors

[snyprrr]

I asked a friend, and he said there's a video of Gergiev on YouTube,... conducting with a toothpick!! I haven't seen it yet, but...

I guess Bernstein may take honors also, no? C'mon,... someone's got to have the belly laugh stories,... c'mon!! 

[Grazioso]

I asked a friend, and he said there's a video of Gergiev on YouTube,... conducting with a toothpick!! I haven't seen it yet, but...

I guess Bernstein may take honors also, no? C'mon,... someone's got to have the belly laugh stories,... c'mon!! 

Well, Beecham may not have jumped around or conducted with a toy lightsaber, but he is renowned for his vicious wit:

"Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it."
--to a lady cellist.

"We cannot expect you to be with us all the time, but perhaps you could be good enough to keep in touch now and again."
--to a musician during a rehearsal

"All the arts in America are a gigantic racket run by unscrupulous men for unhealthy women."

When asked if he had played any Stockhausen, he replied, "No, but I have trodden in some."

"The English may not like music, but they absolutely love the noise it makes."

[PaulSC]

[DavidRoss]

Among the violinists [in the premiere performance of the 7th Symphony] was the composer Ludwig Spohr (1784-1859), who was astounded by Beethoven's conducting style, noting how he used "all manner of singular bodily movements. As a sforzando occurred, he tore his arms, previously crossed upon his breast, with great vehemence asunder. At piano he crouched down lower and lower to show the degree of softness. If a crescendo entered he gradually rose again and at a forte jumped into the air."

http://www.nwsinfonietta.com/notes3Oct03.htm

[david johnson]

"Despite his acknowledged high level of musicianship, Antione Jullien was not above plenty of hype when he was performing before an audience. For example, whenever Beethoven was about to be played Jullien would precede the performance with a ritual in which he turned back the cuffs of his coat and the white lacy wristbands of his shirtsleeves. At this signal someone would bring out a silver tray upon which lay a jeweled baton and white kid gloves. With great care the gloves were put on and the baton picked up, with the assistant departing after a low bow. After a pause as if to pay homage, the music would finally begin."

heheheh...that's hard to outdo.

dj

[snyprrr]

[snyprrr]

"Despite his acknowledged high level of musicianship, Antione Jullien was not above plenty of hype when he was performing before an audience. For example, whenever Beethoven was about to be played Jullien would precede the performance with a ritual in which he turned back the cuffs of his coat and the white lacy wristbands of his shirtsleeves. At this signal someone would bring out a silver tray upon which lay a jeweled baton and white kid gloves. With great care the gloves were put on and the baton picked up, with the assistant departing after a low bow. After a pause as if to pay homage, the music would finally begin."

heheheh...that's hard to outdo.

dj

Yes, I like that. It makes sense! I wanna!! Bum BUMM!!

[Lethevich]

Berlioz did greatly tone down his style after receiving criticism from a respected conductor, I forget who.

[snyprrr]

Berlioz did greatly tone down his style after receiving criticism from a respected conductor, I forget who.

Oh, that was Berlioz? ok, that makes it look less poofy and more arrogant, haha! The hand on the hip saying, I AM! haha

[bigshot]

I just got a copy of the Japanese video that includes the wartime Furtwangler films. Although the camera doesn't linger on the conductor for very long, Furtie's "puppet on a string" conducting style is quite entertaining. He's definitely the most idiosyncratic conductor visually.

[smitty1931]

Sir Thomas Beecham was conducting  Aida in a small provencial town when the camel in the processional  let loose a dump mid stage, Sir Thomas turned to the concertmaster and said " not much of a performer, but egad what a critic!"

[Josquin des Prez]

Berlioz did greatly tone down his style after receiving criticism from a respected conductor

Having a cannon pointed at you can have that effect.

[Lethevich]

Having a cannon pointed at you can have that effect.

The only way to get him off the stage

[Octo_Russ]

I asked a friend, and he said there's a video of Gergiev on YouTube,... conducting with a toothpick!! I haven't seen it yet, but...

Here's the toothpick Maestro...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coa5hiNamdo

[eyeresist]

Among the violinists [in the premiere performance of the 7th Symphony] was the composer Ludwig Spohr (1784-1859), who was astounded by Beethoven's conducting style, noting how he used "all manner of singular bodily movements. As a sforzando occurred, he tore his arms, previously crossed upon his breast, with great vehemence asunder. At piano he crouched down lower and lower to show the degree of softness. If a crescendo entered he gradually rose again and at a forte jumped into the air."

Though this doesn't sound so unusual compared to later conductors, once it had become a recognised profession.

[Mirror Image]

Here's the toothpick Maestro...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coa5hiNamdo

That is just crazy! Well I guess he'll be able pick his teeth during intermission, which is one good thing about being the Toothpick Maestro.

[Josquin des Prez]

There's a video of Bernstein conducting a Haydn symphony with his bushy eyebrows. Silly, but cute. Alas, i can't seem to find the video anymore.