On Music and Human Spirit | DAVOS 2020 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Music, particularly classical music, has the immediate ability to transcend boundaries and connect people across cultures, making it a universal language.

Key Insights

• ✊ Music, particularly classical music, has a unique power to connect with people's emotions and transcend cultural boundaries, making it a universal language.
• 🎼 Access to music education is important as every child has the capacity to learn and appreciate music.
• 🧔‍♀️ Resistance to women conductors is a reflection of societal comfort levels with roles and takes time to change.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why do you believe that music, especially classical music, is able to connect with people more directly than any other form of art?

Alsop believes that music is innate to human beings and that it has the power to tap into our emotions, senses, and spirits. It can transport us to different times, places, and emotions, making it an immediate and universal medium of expression.

Q: Why do you think there is resistance to women conductors in the classical music industry?

Alsop believes that resistance to women conductors stems from a lack of comfort with different-looking people in certain roles. She created a fellowship for women conductors to provide more opportunities and help change the landscape of the profession.

Q: How did the idea for the global ode to joy project come about?

Inspired by Beethoven's ability to create music despite his own struggles, Alsop wanted to create a project that would symbolize hope, unity, and joy. The idea is to bring together different cultures and languages to perform Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," with a text that resonates with each community.

Q: How does Marin Alsop use conducting techniques to convey emotion and bring out the best in musicians?

Alsop emphasizes the importance of body language in conducting, with each conductor having their own individualistic style. Breathing is crucial, especially for wind and brass instrument players. She also addresses societal interpretations of gesture, as women conductors are often judged differently than men.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Marin Alsop is a renowned American conductor, violinist, and current music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

• Music, especially classical music, has a unique ability to connect with people's emotions and senses more directly than any other form of art, transcending cultural boundaries.

• Alsop emphasizes the importance of access to music education and believes that every child should have the opportunity to learn an instrument.