Music: Primer for Conductors

On the podium, all his movements are clipped and economical. Every muscle is under rigid control. But the moment the music stops, Conductor Igor Markevitch cuts loose. For quick relief from artistic discipline, he unlimbers his tongue. Occasionally his cutting comments have helped cost him a job. "Paris musicians," he announced, "are a Mafia." Markevitch played several variations on the same theme, and was forced to resign from Paris' Lamoureux Orchestra a year ago. Last week, in Tel Aviv, where he appeared as guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic, he sounded off at the drop of a question. This time...

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