It always feels strange once the orchestra stops playing annd its the composer that bows for the applause.
Conductor, we have a problem.
In addition to all the good answers previously given, a conductor interprets what the composer has written. And different conductors may create very different interpretations of the same piece. They can set the basic tempo faster or slower, they can get the orchestra to really lean in to a particular musical phrase or de-emphasise it, they can bring out the horns at one point or hush them a bit and let us focus on the oboe or piccolo… A good conductor has studied and notated the entire score for some time before they and the orchestra even begin to rehearse.
So, part of that bow at the end can be to say, “what do you think of this interpretation compared to all the other times you’ve heard this famous symphony?” Then they usually turn around and wave the orchestra members to stand, which means, “and didn’t these guys do a great job executing it!?”
They wear VR contacts and are tapping little people on the “screen” to make the noises.
Orchestra conductor weighing in here. This is the correct answer.
Keeps the beat and tells you to ramp up, ramp down (volume ) and when to stop or start. He points the stick at your instrument group, makes eye contact, to let you know.
I was only in band (we had band not orchestra) in 5-8th grade.
But I’ll tell you, it’s very intuitive. I never was like “what’s he mean?”.
It’s just like very obvious what the conductor* is indicating to you.
Keeping the music out of their eyes
I feel this video of Jacob Collier conducting an orchestra from scratch may be the best representation of what conductors do.
Drying it off.
Funny thing is you can actually conduct pretty well with just your hand.
Also a good conductor is usually an astoundingly good player of multiple instruments themselves.
It’s kind of like how football (soccer) team managers are retired players that can still play better than the entire stadium wearing loafers and a suit.
This is rage bait
The secret is in the practice before the concert. Over many weeks, months the conducter truly “sets the tone”, listening to each individual instrument, their interplay, the tempo, the balance. The conductor knows the weaknesses and strengths of the orchestra, and during the concert uses the stick to create accents, to control the speed, to make sure any hurdle is removed. It doesn’t have to be a stick, some use just their hands.
If you want to ruin a concert’s day, change the thermostat a few clicks lol.
Setting the tempo and keeping the instruments all synchronised
I just recently attended to the Opera “The magic flute/Die Zauberflöte” so reading the replies here gave me a lot of answeres to questions I was to lazy to ask for myself.
Anyway, have soneone else here seen that play?
