The work of a symphony orchestra is spectacular. Hours of practice, planning, rehearsals, learning, technique... All of this mixed together to lead most of the time to a joint show before a demanding audience. For this great work to have the best results, a leader is necessary to guide not only the sound but also the team: the conductor.
Their role in this process is fundamental, and it is thanks to their performance that the orchestra manages to transmit excellent technique and the emotion and quality necessary for the work to be correctly interpreted.
For this reason, in this article we will analyze the role of a conductor, exploring what his functions are and why he is the key piece in an interpretation; in addition to compiling some of the best orchestra directors in history.
The role of the conductor
As we said, the role of the orchestra conductor is fundamental but, for a person who does not know how it works, his role can be somewhat confusing. His main charge is to interpret and convey the musical vision of the composer and the piece to both the musicians performing it and the audience.
To do this, he must train and study extensively to understand music, as well as possess the ability to communicate it.
Between composition and audience
To begin with, the conductor stands in the middle between the composer himself and the audience. Through how he performs a certain work, the conductor can determine the composer's original intent while giving a unique twist, resulting in no two performances being the same. In this way, the director is responsible for establishing the tone with which he communicates, emotionally and narratively.
music translation
Another fundamental part is the work of interpreting the musical score. To do so, the conductor must study the score in detail, paying special attention to all those indications carried out by the composer in everything related to technical aspects, such as tempo or dynamics.
This will help performers to start, and keep the time and rhythm of a piece of music. He also executes his own mission, and that is that being the figure of authority, he has to coordinate the entire orchestra.
guide and order
Thus, he must listen and react to balance the sound produced by the orchestra, indicating the entrance of each instrument, and marking the dynamic and agogic accents. To do so, he will use both his hands and a baton with which he will communicate with his musicians. These are directing elements and physical expressiveness, so each director is different and transfers in a different way.
In addition, the director is usually in charge of organizing and planning the rehearsals before the final performance, choosing the repertoire and the order in which it will be represented so that it has complete musical cohesion.
The best orchestra conductors
Once the functions of an orchestra conductor have been mentioned, taking into account not only their great responsibility but also the need for advanced musical knowledge, it is time to name some of the best orchestra conductors throughout history, who will serve as reference and inspiration for future generations.
Carlos Kleiber
Without a doubt, this Austrian is accredited as one of the best of the 20th century and, for some people, as the best in history. His fame mixes both his talent and different controversies, and it is that he had a complex personality, exposed by the cancellation of his performances regularly, the refusal to grant reports, and the search for absolute perfection.
His way of directing was really expressive, something well received by the public thanks to his arm gestures. His repertoire spanned 22 composers, and his recordings of symphonies such as Beethoven's have sometimes been regarded as definitive.
Herbert von Karajan
This Austrian conductor was especially noted for his ability to get the orchestra to produce a magnificent sound. He was able to work with some of the world's leading orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for 35 years, leaving behind a truly impressive musical legacy. Furthermore, he is the best-selling classical music recording artist of all time.
Leonard Bernstein
This composer, pianist, and conductor was the first American-born conductor to gain worldwide fame for conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as for his Youth Concerts on television, and for his various compositions, such as 'West Side Story' or 'Candide'.
In addition, he stood out for the interpretation of a wide range of musical genres, starting with classical music (reviving the music of Gustav Mahler ) to jazz. He was not only remarkable as a conductor but also as an influential music educator, especially among the youngest.
Claudio Abbado
This Italian conductor has been head of the Berlin Philharmonic since 1989 and stood out for his technique and for the generational renewal of musicians, promoting multidisciplinary thematic programs and a new musical repertoire, including contemporary composers.
He had a sensitive and profound approach to music, being able to bring out some truly unique nuances, making him one of the most respected conductors of his generation.
Pascual Osa and his mastery
We could not write this article without mentioning the chief conductor of the FilarmonÃa Orchestra and founder of FilarmonÃa. Osa has directed practically all the Spanish orchestras and some international ones, such as the National Symphony of Peru and the London Philharmonic. Among his merits, he highlights having been a member of the Spanish representation in the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11 and director of the concert offered at the UN headquarters in New York.
