What It's Like To Be... A Conductor
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Nov 18, 2025 Carlos Miguel Prieto, a renowned music director and conductor, delves into the art of conducting beyond mere gestures. He shares insights on how phrasing and tempo can transform the meaning of classical pieces like Beethoven's Fifth. Carlos emphasizes preparation as the backbone of performance, detailing his unique score markup system and the necessity of efficient rehearsals. He also recounts how he navigates live mishaps with humor and respect, and the incredible spontaneity that comes from working closely with musicians.
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Make Gestures Smaller To Speed Tempo
- Avoid waving bigger to increase tempo; smaller, contained gestures speed players up.
- Use compact gestures to convey intensity and faster tempo, says Carlos Miguel Prieto.
Emotion Over Motion
- Conducting communicates emotion and energy more than literal hand patterns.
- Carlos Miguel Prieto says 90% of conducting is feelings, not gestures.
Classics Change With Interpretation
- Interpretations of classics change over decades through tempo and phrasing choices.
- Prieto notes early-20th and late-20th recordings of Beethoven's Fifth sound very different.
