Mahler on YouTube

[brunumb]

Someone posted this clip on another discussion board.
I found it amusing to watch the conductor and speculate on the inspiration for his technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmkVaYYCVNQ&feature=player_embedded#at=94

I'm thinking perhaps Nijinsky, or maybe he was previously in a synchronised swimming team.

[James Meckley]

Looks like an amalgam of the worst aspects of Leonard Bernstein, Carlos Kleiber, and Valery Gergiev, aided and abetted by some serious recreational drugs.

At least the microphone set-up is nicely done.

James

[stillivor]

That's fun, kind of. At least it's different.

here's more self-indulgence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsAOOgry-8A&feature=fvst

Just the mood I'm in.



    Ivor

[Jot N. Tittle]

Looks like an amalgam of the worst aspects of Leonard Bernstein, Carlos Kleiber, and Valery Gergiev, aided and abetted by some serious recreational drugs.

Spot on, James! Although I find Gergiev's conducting with his fingers more annoying. Look how close this fellow gets to the edge of the stage--but no one in the audience ever flinches. Nor laugh (that we can see). What a shame not to have the opening of Mvt. 4.

(Have you seen Fabio Luisi at the finale of M-1? Looks like a man fighting a swarm of hornets.)

     . & '

[waderice]

Joan Peyser, in her Leonard Bernstein biography, mentions an encounter in a NYC restaurant by Fritz Reiner and his former student, Bernstein.  This was after Bernstein's career as NY Philharmonic conductor was launched.  Reiner approached Bernstein, and told him, "You are a s**t".  If Reiner were here to see Misha Kazt' conducting, no doubt he would call Kazt a lot worse.

Wade

[Roffe]

My problem is, when I see a guy like this Misha Kazt, that I get so fascinated (or appauled) of what he is doing, and how he is doing it, that I forget to listen to the music, and my concert is more or less ruined as a musical experience. No, guys like this (and he is not alone, some other guys were already mentioned) should not be allowed to be seen by an audience or on TV/DVD, I think their best media are the CD and the radio (LOL). Maybe also the off-stage orchestra.

Roffe

[Zoltan]

Hahaha, thanks for the laugh! I still have to see such a "Kapellmeister" live myself!