Since I mentioned these on the air, I figured I’d copy them here for your edification: Richard Strauss’ “Ten Golden Rules for the Album of a Young Conductor” (1927):
- Remember that you are making music not to amuse yourself, but to delight your audience.
- You should not perspire when conducting. Only the audience should get warm.
- Conduct “Salome” and “Elektra” as if they were by Mendelssohn: Fairy music.
- Never look encouragingly at the brass, except with a brief glance to give an important cue.
- But never let the horns and woodwinds out of your sight. If you can hear them at all, they are still too strong.
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If you think that the brass is now blowing hard enough, tone it down another shade or two.
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It is not enough that you yourself should hear every word the soloist sings. You should know it by heart anyway. The audience must be able to follow without effort. If they do not understand the words, they will go to sleep.
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Always accompany the singer in such a way that he can sing without effort.
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When you think you have reached the limits of prestissimo, double the pace. (Amended in 1948: “Today I should like to amend this: take the tempo half as fast.”)
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If you follow these rules carefully, you will, with your fine gifts and your great accomplishments, always be the darling of your listeners.
PHOTO: Strauss, there is method in his madness
