Note to Conductors: Your Hand Motions Make No Sound

For the past month or so musicians in the orchestra world have been buzzing about Roberto Minczuk, the Music Director of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).  It seems, at his urging, the orchestra management has decided to re-audition every member of the orchestra. You can imagine the outrage that this decision has raised among musicians and others not just in Brazil, but around the world.

To his credit, Mr. Minczuk has tried to explain himself in Norman Lebrecht blog of March 8, and found here.

This controversy raises interesting issues about orchestra quality control, the value of musician’s experience, standards, and “dead wood,” etc.  But that is for another blog or article.

Here is how the orchestra dealt with it yesterday. It’s a good reminder for conductors and musicians alike.