World's smallest baton

[SD Tav]

I really like most of Shostakovich's symphonies. All except numbers 2 and 3. Even Shostakovich admitted they were failed experiments. But, I recently watched this performance of the 4th symphony which is an intense work.

Link to video
I was struck by the conductor, Valery Gergiev, using which must be the world's smallest baton - a toothpick! I wonder whether the brass and percussion sections can even see it.

[George K]

Interesting - I wonder what the (pardon the expression) point is?

Rozhdestvensky was known for using a freakishly long baton.

[Axtremus]

Then there was Leopold Stokowski, no baton.

[Horace]

@george-k said in World's smallest baton:

Rozhdestvensky was known for using a freakishly long baton.

Probably also drove a flashy sports car.

[Horace]

@axtremus said in World's smallest baton:

Then there was Leopold Stokowski, no baton.

He was post-op.

[taiwan_girl]

(https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2012/11/27/165677915/do-orchestras-really-need-conductors)

From this study, the answer is that conductors do make a difference

[LuFins Dad]

@taiwan_girl Conductors matter, batons do not. It’s one of the most ridiculous pretensions of the orchestral world.

Sure, there’s a theory and a technique, and you can take four years worth of classes to learn the techniques but ultimately they mean nothing. Most musicians can’t even see the baton in stage lighting. Choral directors don’t use them and can be much more effective with various hand gestures.

[Klaus]

You know what they say about conductors with small batons...

[Aqua Letifer]

@klaus said in World's smallest baton:

You know what they say about conductors with small batons...

Small gestures?