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A female conductor at the Last Night of the Proms is worth waving a flag for A female conductor at the Last Night of the Proms is worth waving a flag for
(5 months later)
It's taken 22 conductors, 118 years and almost as many renditions of Land of Hope and Glory to get here. But on 7 September 2013, Marin Alsop will become the first female conductor to wield the baton at the Last Night of the Proms.It's taken 22 conductors, 118 years and almost as many renditions of Land of Hope and Glory to get here. But on 7 September 2013, Marin Alsop will become the first female conductor to wield the baton at the Last Night of the Proms.
I should be shocked it's taken so long. But actually I can't say I'm surprised.I should be shocked it's taken so long. But actually I can't say I'm surprised.
The number of women who hold top-level conducting posts around the world can be counted on one hand. Besides Alsop, there's JoAnn Falletta, principal conductor at the Ulster orchestra, Jane Glover, head of opera at the Royal Academy of Music, Xian Zhang – who also appears at this year's BBC Proms – and precious few others.The number of women who hold top-level conducting posts around the world can be counted on one hand. Besides Alsop, there's JoAnn Falletta, principal conductor at the Ulster orchestra, Jane Glover, head of opera at the Royal Academy of Music, Xian Zhang – who also appears at this year's BBC Proms – and precious few others.
Announcing the Proms programme this week, its director, Roger Wright mentioned the "weight of history", the traditional division of family roles and the system of training conductors as three reasons women haven't made an impact on the podium. And it is true that it's a career that puts an almost impossible strain on family life. The world's best conductors have to live a nomadic life, constantly travelling across continents and producing a steady stream of dazzling performances and brilliant recordings.Announcing the Proms programme this week, its director, Roger Wright mentioned the "weight of history", the traditional division of family roles and the system of training conductors as three reasons women haven't made an impact on the podium. And it is true that it's a career that puts an almost impossible strain on family life. The world's best conductors have to live a nomadic life, constantly travelling across continents and producing a steady stream of dazzling performances and brilliant recordings.
But there must be more to it than that – after all, one of the other stars of the 2013 Last Night of the Proms will be mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, the epitome of an international opera superstar, who appears in New York one week and London the next. So why are there so few female conducting superstars to match the Barenboims, Elders and Rattles of this world?But there must be more to it than that – after all, one of the other stars of the 2013 Last Night of the Proms will be mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, the epitome of an international opera superstar, who appears in New York one week and London the next. So why are there so few female conducting superstars to match the Barenboims, Elders and Rattles of this world?
It's no longer true to say that the concert hall is dominated by men when artists like violinist Nicola Benedetti, trumpeter Alison Balsom, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, pianist Mitsuko Uchida and soprano Renée Fleming can sell out venues. And they're in good company – the list of female soloists at the top of the classical world stretches on and on, and orchestral musicians are just as likely to be women as men (with the notable exception of the Vienna Philharmonic). And yet, the person at the front remains, by and large, male.It's no longer true to say that the concert hall is dominated by men when artists like violinist Nicola Benedetti, trumpeter Alison Balsom, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, pianist Mitsuko Uchida and soprano Renée Fleming can sell out venues. And they're in good company – the list of female soloists at the top of the classical world stretches on and on, and orchestral musicians are just as likely to be women as men (with the notable exception of the Vienna Philharmonic). And yet, the person at the front remains, by and large, male.
Perhaps the world of business – another sector in which men still outnumber women at the top – is a useful parallel. Like CEOs, conductors have to be excellent people managers. I spoke to one (male) conductor recently who said managing the fiery personalities of his orchestra took up at least 50% of his time. Conductors have to bend a roomful of musicians to their particular interpretation of a piece of music. And that's a role that, like it or not, musicians, audiences and critics are more used to seeing filled by a man, an impression that's been formed largely by the mythical maestros of the 20th century – Sir Georg Solti, Arturo Toscanini, Wilhelm Furtwängler. The job itself is no more biased towards men than that of CEO is: but while the perception of the male maestro remains, so will the inequality.Perhaps the world of business – another sector in which men still outnumber women at the top – is a useful parallel. Like CEOs, conductors have to be excellent people managers. I spoke to one (male) conductor recently who said managing the fiery personalities of his orchestra took up at least 50% of his time. Conductors have to bend a roomful of musicians to their particular interpretation of a piece of music. And that's a role that, like it or not, musicians, audiences and critics are more used to seeing filled by a man, an impression that's been formed largely by the mythical maestros of the 20th century – Sir Georg Solti, Arturo Toscanini, Wilhelm Furtwängler. The job itself is no more biased towards men than that of CEO is: but while the perception of the male maestro remains, so will the inequality.
Of course, I'd prefer not to be writing this, I'd rather female conductors were the norm. But they are emphatically not, and this is no time for gender-blindness. Nadia Boulanger, the great teacher and composer, was once asked about being a female conductor to which she witheringly replied: "I've been a woman a little over 50 years and have gotten over my initial astonishment." Which is brilliant. But it's not going to get more women on the podium.Of course, I'd prefer not to be writing this, I'd rather female conductors were the norm. But they are emphatically not, and this is no time for gender-blindness. Nadia Boulanger, the great teacher and composer, was once asked about being a female conductor to which she witheringly replied: "I've been a woman a little over 50 years and have gotten over my initial astonishment." Which is brilliant. But it's not going to get more women on the podium.
Nor is the argument that more women will gradually filter through the system. Time may eventually bring about equality – but I'm not prepared to wait for that. Concert halls need to engage more women, orchestras need to employ them, festivals need to invite them and – crucially – the media has to cover them. Changing audience perception has to be a joint effort.Nor is the argument that more women will gradually filter through the system. Time may eventually bring about equality – but I'm not prepared to wait for that. Concert halls need to engage more women, orchestras need to employ them, festivals need to invite them and – crucially – the media has to cover them. Changing audience perception has to be a joint effort.
And that's why the BBC Proms's decision to hand the Last Night over to a woman is so historic. All of the festival's concerts are broadcast on Radio 3 and many are filmed – but only the Last Night, with its star soloists, classical favourites and traditional tunes, attracts viewers in their millions. Alsop isn't conducting any old Prom, she's conducting the most high-profile event of the classical music calendar and one of the few events at which the conductor is also expected to give a speech.And that's why the BBC Proms's decision to hand the Last Night over to a woman is so historic. All of the festival's concerts are broadcast on Radio 3 and many are filmed – but only the Last Night, with its star soloists, classical favourites and traditional tunes, attracts viewers in their millions. Alsop isn't conducting any old Prom, she's conducting the most high-profile event of the classical music calendar and one of the few events at which the conductor is also expected to give a speech.
Yes, Alsop is the first in far too long and, yes, only five out of 50 Proms conductors this year are women. But in September millions will tune in to see her conduct works by both men and women. And that is something worth waving a flag for.Yes, Alsop is the first in far too long and, yes, only five out of 50 Proms conductors this year are women. But in September millions will tune in to see her conduct works by both men and women. And that is something worth waving a flag for.
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