It wasn’t a violin string that broke during last night’s performance of Elgar’s Violin Concerto. With soloist Gil Shaham energetically tackling this challenging piece, conductor David Zinman’s baton snapped in two as he lead to CSO. Never saw that before.
When I learned that my brother sat in his easy chair and “conducted” the stereo while listening to symphonies on cd, I bought him a beautiful walnut handled baton. Now he could conduct his whole orchestra – first cat, second ferret, and dove section. My brother had unusual pets. The dove and the ferret both attacked the cat, who was a wimp.
My publisher tells me he once saw Sir George Solti poke himself in the head with his baton while conducting.