Charles Hazlewood: Trusting the ensemble

TL;DR

Conductor Charles Hazlewood explains how trust between a conductor and an orchestra, as well as trust within a diverse musical community, is fundamental to creating beautiful music.

Transcript

I am a conductor, and I'm here today to talk to you about trust. My job depends upon it. There has to be, between me and the orchestra, an unshakable bond of trust, born out of mutual respect, through which we can spin a musical narrative that we all believe in. Now in the old days, conducting, music making, was less about trust and more, frankly, ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎺 Music making has evolved from being dictated by conductors to becoming a more democratic process where trust and personal freedom for musicians to shine are valued.
• 🤲 Trust is crucial in a conductor-orchestra relationship, and lack of trust leads to overcompensation and ineffective communication.
• 🌍 Music making can build trust across divides, as shown by the experience of forming a new opera company in South Africa where former white policemen and black community members came together through singing.
• 🎶 South African music making is characterized by freedom and improvisation due to a lack of reliance on notation.
• 🎵 Many people lack confidence in understanding and appreciating classical music, but trusting one's ears and delving into the fundamental aspects of a great piece can lead to a richer experience.
• 👥 Paraorchestra, Britain's first national disabled orchestra, aims to showcase the musical potential of disabled individuals and challenge perceptions of disability in music.
• 🙏 Trust between musicians is essential for successful improvisation, as demonstrated by the incredible music created during the first improvisation session of Paraorchestra.
• 🎼 Joseph Haydn's symphony highlights the importance of trust in music and life, as the orchestra's performance successfully persuaded Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy to reunite the musicians with their families.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has the role of conductors evolved over time?

The role of conductors has shifted from being dictators who would control the orchestra to being more democratic and collaborative, allowing for individual artistic expression within a unified vision for the music.

Q: How did music help build trust in South Africa?

Through music making, animosities were put aside, and deep levels of trust were developed, proving that music can transcend words and create connections where trust is lacking.

Q: What is the purpose of Paraorchestra?

Paraorchestra is aiming to create Britain's first national disabled orchestra, providing a platform for disabled individuals to showcase their musical potential and challenging the perception that disability is a barrier to musical achievement.

Q: How did music influence the relationship between Prince Esterhazy and his orchestra?

Haydn composed a symphony to protest the separation of musicians from their families, utilizing music's power to convey emotions and ultimately leading the prince to reunite the orchestra and their families, demonstrating the importance of trust in music.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Charles Hazlewood discusses the importance of trust between a conductor and an orchestra, which allows for a collaborative and democratic approach to music making.

• He shares his experiences in South Africa, where music played a vital role in building trust and friendship between members of diverse communities.

• Hazlewood introduces his project, Paraorchestra, a national disabled orchestra aimed at showcasing the musical potential of disabled individuals.