Conducting: between culture and entertainment

When Hector Berlioz published „Le Chef d’orchestre“ in 1856, conducting had been evolving for decades. François Habeneck, founder of the Société des Concerts de Paris, had already redefined the role from mere coordination to profound interpretation, exemplified by his meticulous three-year preparation of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Today, the fast-paced digital era challenges the depth of musical interpretation. As Alex Ross noted in The New Yorker, young conductors now frequently move between orchestras, prioritizing image over substance. This trend risks reducing music from a cultural art form to mere entertainment, making us nostalgic for the great interpreters of the past.

Read the full article by Claudia Patanè, Italian conductor, currently pursuing her doctorate in musicology at the Tor Vergata University in Rome, Italy, here:

La direzione d’orchestra nell’industria musicale: dove finisce la cultura e inizia l’intrattenimento