Jennifer Tung

About a year ago I attended the Women in Musical Leadership‘s conducting masterclass with the TSO and Gustavo Gimeno at Roy Thomson Hall.  Last night I went back for this year’s version.  Three of last year’s participants; Jennifer Tung, Juliane Gallant and Naomi Woo were back.  Last year’s fourth participant, Maria Fuller, was off in Poland conducting Hänsel and Gretel which I think says a lot for the programme.  There were two new conductors; Monica Chen and Kelly Lin.

Juliane Gallant

The two symphonies worked on were Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor and Dvořák’s Symphony No.9 in E Minor.  These have to be two of the most dramatic works in the standard rep and so I understand that taking the TSO for a test drive in them must be thrilling.  I did wonder though with. several of the conductors whether so long an intro was necessary or the best use of very limited time (I think I’d say that if it was a regular rehearsal but even more so for a masterclass).

Naomi Woo

Much of what I wrote last year remains valid so I won’t repeat my general comments.  I did learn some new stuff last night though.  Perhaps the most important is that the three repeat performers had all progressed; more confident, better able to communicate, more rapport with the players.  I think there was more emphasis this year by Gustavo on active listening.  I’d never really thought about what, for example, a conductor can hear that, say, a horn player playing a solo can’t.  Also the importance of hearing “everything at once” as well as the thing you want to concentrate on.

Monica Chen

I was really impressed with the technical grip of the two new comers.  They really knew what they wanted and often expressed it in quite technical terms.  It didn’t seem to phase the players at all.  Kelly Lin even asked the Concertmaster to try bowing a section differently.  I confess to a sharp intake of breath at that point and I think Gustavo was right to point out that’s quite a high risk strategy.  Once again though the orchestra proved that they are as amenable as they are skilled and no eyelids were batted!

Kelly Lin

All in all the programme, which is a partnership between Tapestry Opera, the TSO and Pacific Opera Victoria seems to be working and the public masterclass is a fun event.  The ladies were engaging and Gustavo’s gentle, if pointed, humour is worth the price of admission(free!).,