| Chapter 1: | Conducting in Theory and Practice |
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Chapter 1
Conducting in Theory and Practice
The Conductor as Interpreter
The role of the conductor as interpreter mirrors the role of the performer as interpreter. Both performer and conductor are confronted with the task of creating music from the notation, which conceals as much as it reveals. Whilst many have argued that there is more to performance than this, perhaps the most important task for the performer is to discover the concealed music. How does the conductor/performer approach the score? Does he/she embrace the notion of the Werkkonzept or allow a much more subjective voice to govern his/her interpretative choices? Is there a third alternative that explores a middle ground between these two extremes?