Alexander Prior conducts John Adams The Chairman Dances

[jazzthieve]

Mono audio, are you serious???

[Blueroverz]

Recording is incomplete. Shame, just when it gets busy : )

[tommyk77]

Looks a bit frantic. Sounds good though, but perhaps should be a tad faster?

[nathan87]

does he really have to cue every entry and dynamic like it wouldn't happen if he didn't.

[UnDead483]

@nathan87 Well he has to do something doesn't he? If you're conducting Mahler or Berlioz or other popular orchestral composers (Most coming from the Romantic period), possibly the conductor's most important job is defining the fluctuations in tempo that allow for dramatic effect. But with John Adams' music, the pulse is king. Once it is set, it must be held. So what else is there for the poor guy to do? He has to stave off boredom somehow.

[nathan87]

@UnDead483 I actually disagree that this music is mostly about the pulse. It's also about finding interesting things in the scoring. Alexander doesn't seem to be indicating any of that, he's just showing the obvious stuff that is already on the paper. Cutting back on that would allow room for more individuality. I've played this piece under conductors who get better results with less. Incidentally, you may find this silly trick pulled off by Bernstein interesting: watch?v=XclKeS0vaiM

[verygrumpyoldman]

switch the sound off, and you might think he's conducting Mahler 5 or something. ridiculous. more a joke than a prodigy if you want my opinion.

[Terpentijn]

it doesn't swing

[Dannepihls]

Absolutely wonderful to see the talented Alex conducting this piece!

Long live John Adams! :)

[earthenvessels]

I was there!!! it was incredible!

[ThaSchwab]

Great video, but I wish the sound wasn't screwed up (at least for people who use headphones, it only comes out one side).

[bratwurstle]

mono much? a not too much...a much too much!

[ullalwaysbemythunder]

You were there too? thats amazing! got anymore videos of Alex Prior and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra last April 8?