The world-renowned conductor, Seiji Ozawa, has passed away.
I've previously discussed a bit about the significant impact a conductor has on an orchestra.
At one concert I attended, a foreign conductor couldn't come to Japan due to illness, and a substitute, seemingly a conducting student,
took his place.
Clearly nervous, his tension spread to the orchestra, resulting in a disjointed performance.
Even the audience, including myself who is not deeply versed in classical music, must have felt this.
It was a great opportunity for the substitute conductor, but it seems he couldn't fully seize it.
Looking at this from another angle, as someone who rides horses, I compare the orchestra to a horse and the conductor to the rider.
(My apologies to the orchestra for the comparison.)
When a rider is nervous, the horse immediately senses it. The moment they mount,
the horse judges whether it's safe to follow the rider's lead. "Is it safe to obey this person? Is it dangerous?
Maybe I should just stay put or even shake my head to scare them off and throw them."
This is likely what goes through the horse's mind.
If that happens, the horse becomes immovable. That lesson is undoubtedly a failure.
That concert must have been a bitter experience for the substitute conductor, but I hope he continues to refine his skills
and tries again in the future.
Nonetheless, Seiji Ozawa was truly loved by many.