Suits on Conductors (think orchestra, not train)

[Sprezzateur]

I just came back from the orchestra and saw this guy conducting, wearing this suit:

I'm guessing he's just wearing an undershirt underneath. He looked kind of funny waving his arms and seeing nothing but wrist.

Contemporary orchestral conductors always seem to wear some interesting jackets and easily get away with it.

 

[gdl203]

Phil Jackson conducts orchestras now?

 

[musicguy]

Everyone seems to be wearing those 'jackets' nowadays... I'm not a big fan of it.

 

[Confurious]

In this case, I think a substantial musical performance would serve as justification for any sartorial eccentricities. Look at Nigel Kennedy:

 

[Robertito]

Originally Posted by Sprezzateur

I just came back from the orchestra and saw this guy conducting, wearing this suit:

I'm guessing he's just wearing an undershirt underneath. He looked kind of funny waving his arms and seeing nothing but wrist.

Contemporary orchestral conductors always seem to wear some interesting jackets and easily get away with it.

Hey, that violinist is a friend of mine - Gina DiBello, one of the finest players in the country.

 

[musicguy]

Originally Posted by Confurious

In this case, I think a substantial musical performance would serve as justification for any sartorial eccentricities. Look at Nigel Kennedy:

Nigel Kennedy's musical tastes are even worse than his sartorial tastes.

 

[Petko]

Should have at least sported a nehru collar shirt. I also had a night out at the concert hall yesterday. As an avid patron, this tends to be the usual maestro gear I observe:

However, I must say that musicians and conductors (but especially the former) can be cut a bit of slack in this regard. Being a classical pianist, I can personally say that with all the rapid leaps and other technically demanding feats often found in the more virtuosic pieces, it can be a rather difficult task in OTR clothing. Unless they go bespoke, I don't mind them neglecting a bit of fashion sense in favor of additional comfort on stage.

 

[S. Able]

Originally Posted by Confurious

In this case, I think a substantial musical performance would serve as justification for any sartorial eccentricities. Look at Nigel Kennedy:

"substantial musical performance" and "Nigel Kennedy" should not appear in the same sentence.

 

[Confurious]

His Sibelius and Tchaikovsky concertos are "substantial musical performances" for me. Arguing about what is or isn't musically tasteful in terms of decorum and interpretation gets dreadfully old sometimes.

 

[bowtielover]

I think it's odd looking let alone who's wearing it. A conductor like that should be in a tux white accesories and tails, not a suit.

 

[Sprezzateur]

Originally Posted by Confurious

His Sibelius and Tchaikovsky concertos are "substantial musical performances" for me.

I just saw him conduct Sibelius' 2nd Symphony. It was fantastic. I actually liked his suit; it wasn't necessarily a criticism. The last concert I saw of the Philly Orchestra was with their chief conductor, Charles Dutoit, who was wearing an equally "interesting" tux. I want to find a pic of that.

 

[Sprezzateur]

Originally Posted by Sprezzateur

The last concert I saw of the Philly Orchestra was with their chief conductor, Charles Dutoit, who was wearing an equally "interesting" tux. I want to find a pic of that.

Nevermind, it was actually Andrey Boreyko (conducting Stravinsky's Firebird) and he was wearing this:

 

[Huntsman]

I saw a conductor dressed as the OP's was just the other day. It looks really lame when the orchestra is in tailcoats and this dude is in a Nehru jacket or whatever, and he wanders off to the side door so that the clapping gets more intense when he comes back in.

Lame-o.

~ H

 

[audiophilia]

Originally Posted by Confurious

His Sibelius and Tchaikovsky concertos are "substantial musical performances" for me. Arguing about what is or isn't musically tasteful in terms of decorum and interpretation gets dreadfully old sometimes.

Agreed. But he's still an utter posing wanker. The guy's middle class as buggery. Trust me, I know. Since he was 15. Zzzzzzzzz

 

[Sprezzateur]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

I saw a conductor dressed as the OP's was just the other day. It looks really lame when the orchestra is in tailcoats and this dude is in a Nehru jacket or whatever, and he wanders off to the side door so that the clapping gets more intense when he comes back in.

I'm a pretty decent fan of orchestral music, but seriously, the quadruple applause is a tad ridiculous. The conductor does not need to leave and come back four times. I felt bad for the octogenarians surrounding me looking like their wrists were about to break.