Henry Fogel, former administrator of the Chicago Symphony, has a post about the visual aspect of orchestral performance. Not much new ground covered, but some interesting questions raised.
I do not believe that the intense involvement physically demonstrated by the Berlin Philharmonic or the Vienna Philharmonic or other European orchestras that I’ve seen is fake. Something in the music resonates with their internal being. And somehow that seems different in this country. Is it the way our musicians are taught? Is it some reserve in the American character, a resistance to showing emotional engagement? I don’t know the answer, but I believe that we need to discuss and explore the question.
Thoughts, anyone? Anyone … anyone? Bueller?