Word: podium
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Only in Tokyo did the rising young conductor fall flat. He returned there between Western triumphs last year, was signed by Japan's prestigious NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corp.) Orchestra to a six-month, $10,000 contract. Proudly, he got up on the podium to display the sweeping conducting technique reminiscent of Bernstein. But his imported hip-swinging was wasted on the musicians of the NHK. For 36 years they had served Germanic masters, who stylistically frown on conducting exertions more noticeable than an occasional swing of the index finger. The sight of the flailing young conductor reminded a critic...
...failed to denounce the U.S. or NATO, the Chinese delegates and their Albanian allies voted against, and remained stubbornly seated while the crowd of 5,000 jumped to their feet, waved handkerchiefs and clapped rhythmically in a 50-minute demonstration. China's Madame Yang then mounted the podium to explain her vote, but was drowned out by angry shouts and finally ruled out of order...
...music's finest old traditions is that young conductors must make their debuts only when calamity strikes the maestro and leaves the podium bare. Last week at the Holland Festival in Amsterdam, Viennese Actress Paula Wessely had a nervous breakdown and Russian Cellist David Rostropovich had a heart attack, setting the emotional stage for the illness of Conductor Paul Sacher, scheduled to lead the Dutch Chamber Orchestra. Aging Conductor Pierre Monteux, 88, promptly appeared on the scene with his protégé in his pocket. "My pupil," said Monteux, "he's great. He reminds...
...next two seasons, introduced himself in a solid, accurate performance of Haydn's Symphony No. 86 in D. Granted that the Haydn offers little latitude for a conductor's virtuosity, Biss's version was singularly unexciting. He made every important cue, handled all the details of podium performance with more polish than one expects of a novice students conductor; unfortunately, the sound lacked a matching professionalism. For example, the dynamics of the first and third movements ventured little beyond mezzo forte and forte; throughout, there was hardly any of the nuance that made Layton's performance of the Mozart Symphony...
...hour-long concerts are bite-sized enough for their audience, but everyone involved finds them uplifting. The orchestra's musicians get five extra weeks' pay beyond the 27-week regular season, and Conductor Mitchell gets to exercise his gently messianic streak with little lectures from the podium. Speaking for the city at large, the Washington Post greeted the new spring's debut with an editorial thought that was justifiably common in Washington. "All of us owe her the warmest thanks," it said...