Responses from the orchestra world to accusations Jaap van Sweden: « It is clear that something has to happen »

Multiple orchestras where Jaap van Sweden conducted was the case A ‘pattern of fear’so concluded Pointerthe research program of KRO-NCRV. The broadcast, which appeared on YouTube on Thursday, keeps the minds within the orchestra world.

Rob Hilberink, director of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR), an annual competition for young conductors under the age of 30: “I thought it was good that Pointer It has tackled so internationally, « he says on the phone, » they made it clear that certain behavior worldwide is seen as harmful – regardless of culture.  » Hilberink sees a clear difference between old, « more dictatorial » styles of leadership and the new generation. « I see that young talents are much more cooperative and less directive. They seem to have much more realization that you only come to a good whole together. »

The pressure on conductors is incredibly large, says Hilberink. « They are put on all sorts of sides: they are the face of donors, to the audience, responsible for the orchestra, the music. With that pressure, an uncertainty can also come up, which in turn can lead to unwanted behavior. »

Hilberink: “It’s all about, how You communicate. As a conductor you can certainly have a strong opinion and a vision, but at this top level you can expect a certain professionalism in communication. I don’t think Jaap van Sweden deserves to be canceled, but that something has to happen is clear. « 

Hard

The American-Dutch Heather Kurzbauer mainly sees a « witch hunt » on Van Sweden, with whom she has studied and also collaborated. She is a violinist and lawyer and wrote a book about the vulnerabilities of classical musicians on the labor market. « I was talking about it with a friend and he said: I really don’t know better than that a conductor is strict, authoritarian and rock hard – for himself and for others. In my conservatory time we always said: if it’s too hot, get out of the kitchen.  »

A new generation of musicians no longer picks that up, she recently noticed when she was at a congress in Antwerp. « Young people said, » We don’t want to work that way, we are from the mindful generation. » Kurzbauer wonders whether that is in line with the reality.

Solutions can be accessible. A buddy system can contribute to a safer working environment for musicians, says Kurzbauer. “If you are just new in an orchestra, it is very nice if a buddy says to you for a moment: next week a very strict conductor will come. Conductors like Jaap, they feel weakness. And it is terrible to say, but they do go hunting. « 

Jac van Steen is a conductor with years of experience with Dutch orchestras such as the Residentie Orchestra and the Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra and with many foreign orchestras such as the London Sinfonietta. Van Steen does not believe in the value of hard manners. « You don’t have to be hard to achieve top results, » he says on the phone. « My starting point is never: how far can I push them? But precisely: how do I get them just further than what they thought for themselves? If someone plays a note differently than I hear him, we will talk about it. Then we will do it again. Until we come out on something new together. » Sometimes that leads to a compromise, sometimes the vision of the musician turns out to be stronger than expected. Van Steen: « Then I will leave it that way. I never see a disagreement as a friction. » Does he never continue his way? « Of course I am the leader. But I want to be Primus Inter Pares: I am one of them, but I decide what happens. »

He nevertheless finds an orchestra without a hierarchy ‘unthinkable’. « The hierarchy is determined by the score. You have suppliers, first blowers, second blowers- all functions with their own place and responsibility. As a conductor you give control. You can go left or clockwise, together with the orchestra. »

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