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I marvel at Vasily Petrenko's bravery. But generalisations belong to bigotry I marvel at Vasily Petrenko's bravery. But generalisations belong to bigotry
(14 days later)
The conductor of the National Youth and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras, Vasily Petrenko, thinks women conductors distract male players. "A cute girl on the podium," he says, deflects sexual energy and makes men "think about other things". Besides, when women have babies they find it "difficult to be as dedicated as is demanded in the business". To the Russian-born maestro, women conductors are clearly bad news.The conductor of the National Youth and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras, Vasily Petrenko, thinks women conductors distract male players. "A cute girl on the podium," he says, deflects sexual energy and makes men "think about other things". Besides, when women have babies they find it "difficult to be as dedicated as is demanded in the business". To the Russian-born maestro, women conductors are clearly bad news.
I marvel above all at Petrenko's bravery. The NYO is entirely run by women and half its players are female. Besides, he is a good-looking chap. What about the girls? The gay musicians? What of their erotic fantasies as he coaxes them through that final crescendo?I marvel above all at Petrenko's bravery. The NYO is entirely run by women and half its players are female. Besides, he is a good-looking chap. What about the girls? The gay musicians? What of their erotic fantasies as he coaxes them through that final crescendo?
In a frantic damage-limitation exercise, Petrenko later explained that he was really referring to Russian players, and was a great admirer of Marin Alsop, who is to conduct the Last Night of the Proms on Saturday. I assume he would also rather not be garrotted with a viola string or impaled on an oboe.In a frantic damage-limitation exercise, Petrenko later explained that he was really referring to Russian players, and was a great admirer of Marin Alsop, who is to conduct the Last Night of the Proms on Saturday. I assume he would also rather not be garrotted with a viola string or impaled on an oboe.
The maxim imprinted on every columnist's mind is: beware of generalising about any group, unless you belong to it. I once wrote a rude article about Birmingham. That admirable Midlander Jeff (now Lord) Rooker stormed up to me so shaking with fury I thought he would hit me. He shouted about smart-aleck London commentators insulting other people's homelands. When I blurted out that I was born in Birmingham, Rooker looked stunned. His whole body language changed. Why didn't you say so, he said. Now, what can we do to improve the place? We were of the same tribe. I had licence.The maxim imprinted on every columnist's mind is: beware of generalising about any group, unless you belong to it. I once wrote a rude article about Birmingham. That admirable Midlander Jeff (now Lord) Rooker stormed up to me so shaking with fury I thought he would hit me. He shouted about smart-aleck London commentators insulting other people's homelands. When I blurted out that I was born in Birmingham, Rooker looked stunned. His whole body language changed. Why didn't you say so, he said. Now, what can we do to improve the place? We were of the same tribe. I had licence.
In the world of comment, licence is all. Non-gays dare not be critical of aspects of homosexuality, or non-Jews of Judaism. Only Scots may be rude about Scotland. As for a man nowadays generalising about women, it is akin to what Dr Johnson said of women preaching, that one was "surprised to find it done at all". No men (other than doctors) are asked to write about "women's issues". It is a restricted occupation.In the world of comment, licence is all. Non-gays dare not be critical of aspects of homosexuality, or non-Jews of Judaism. Only Scots may be rude about Scotland. As for a man nowadays generalising about women, it is akin to what Dr Johnson said of women preaching, that one was "surprised to find it done at all". No men (other than doctors) are asked to write about "women's issues". It is a restricted occupation.
Petrenko's comment best illustrates the extent to which much of the world, in this case Russia, has remained aloof from extraordinary social advances accepted in much of the west over the past half century. To our grandparents, the idea of a woman driving a bus, reading the television news, conducting an orchestra or even running the country would have been beyond imagining. As would have been the general acceptance of homosexuality in public life and discourse.Petrenko's comment best illustrates the extent to which much of the world, in this case Russia, has remained aloof from extraordinary social advances accepted in much of the west over the past half century. To our grandparents, the idea of a woman driving a bus, reading the television news, conducting an orchestra or even running the country would have been beyond imagining. As would have been the general acceptance of homosexuality in public life and discourse.
We are thus surprised and discomfited by attitudes such as Petrenko's, forgetting that they were once common in Britain. Tolerance has so far become the norm that the gay exceptionalism of the ITV sitcom Vicious, with Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi, seems curiously dated. Same-sex unions, racial equality and ethnically mixed marriages are now accorded an acceptability denied in Russia, China and much of Africa.We are thus surprised and discomfited by attitudes such as Petrenko's, forgetting that they were once common in Britain. Tolerance has so far become the norm that the gay exceptionalism of the ITV sitcom Vicious, with Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi, seems curiously dated. Same-sex unions, racial equality and ethnically mixed marriages are now accorded an acceptability denied in Russia, China and much of Africa.
Taking forward the normalising of "difference" is a delicate balance. In the Guardian last week the lesbian campaigner Julie Bindel pondered the need for gay people to embrace the "normality" of marriage – having achieved its legal benefits – when many had fought as "sexual outlaws and radicals, hanging on to our difference rather than striving for acceptance". She wondered why being seen as "ordinary" was such a political achievement.Taking forward the normalising of "difference" is a delicate balance. In the Guardian last week the lesbian campaigner Julie Bindel pondered the need for gay people to embrace the "normality" of marriage – having achieved its legal benefits – when many had fought as "sexual outlaws and radicals, hanging on to our difference rather than striving for acceptance". She wondered why being seen as "ordinary" was such a political achievement.
The answer, as she implies, is that getting used to seeing people in certain roles quietens antagonism. Tolerating the differences in others grows easier the more familiar those differences become. The more Marin Alsops and Jane Glovers there are on the orchestra podium, the more likely it is that others will follow in their footsteps.The answer, as she implies, is that getting used to seeing people in certain roles quietens antagonism. Tolerating the differences in others grows easier the more familiar those differences become. The more Marin Alsops and Jane Glovers there are on the orchestra podium, the more likely it is that others will follow in their footsteps.
The advance of minorities has, on the whole, been achieved through the relentless judgment of merit, rather than through discrimination to their collective advantage. It is merit that has put women and black, gay and disabled people into leading positions in the professions. There is always "more to be done", and there are indeed few women conductors. But abandon merit as the criterion in favour of discrimination and you will find it hard to retrieve.The advance of minorities has, on the whole, been achieved through the relentless judgment of merit, rather than through discrimination to their collective advantage. It is merit that has put women and black, gay and disabled people into leading positions in the professions. There is always "more to be done", and there are indeed few women conductors. But abandon merit as the criterion in favour of discrimination and you will find it hard to retrieve.
There are strong arguments for positive discrimination, not least from the young Barack Obama in his Dreams from My Father. But I distrust it almost as much as I do negative discrimination. They are both enemies of merit. They both promote the odious comparison of groups rather than individuals. Both lend succour to the enemy of democracy, unfairness.There are strong arguments for positive discrimination, not least from the young Barack Obama in his Dreams from My Father. But I distrust it almost as much as I do negative discrimination. They are both enemies of merit. They both promote the odious comparison of groups rather than individuals. Both lend succour to the enemy of democracy, unfairness.
The craving of any tribe to identify and champion its difference from another is the greatest human curse. The anti-gay thugs we saw kicking the inert body of a gay activist in a Russian street must have felt some sick irrational threat. Bindel's homophobes, offended by two women holding hands, must harbour curious insecurities. Petrenko's male violinists, their fingers made jelly by a conductor with breasts, need a cold bath rather than protection from women conductors. All display an ignorance that reflects personal weakness and takes refuge in the power of the group.The craving of any tribe to identify and champion its difference from another is the greatest human curse. The anti-gay thugs we saw kicking the inert body of a gay activist in a Russian street must have felt some sick irrational threat. Bindel's homophobes, offended by two women holding hands, must harbour curious insecurities. Petrenko's male violinists, their fingers made jelly by a conductor with breasts, need a cold bath rather than protection from women conductors. All display an ignorance that reflects personal weakness and takes refuge in the power of the group.
I am sure Petrenko's Russian musicians have a right to a voice. Any latter-day Voltaire will defend that right, just as he will tell them not to be so bigoted. Petrenko's fault lay in caricaturing one group – male players – to the detriment of another, women conductors. That is what he should be pilloried for. The path to tolerance is marked: never generalise.I am sure Petrenko's Russian musicians have a right to a voice. Any latter-day Voltaire will defend that right, just as he will tell them not to be so bigoted. Petrenko's fault lay in caricaturing one group – male players – to the detriment of another, women conductors. That is what he should be pilloried for. The path to tolerance is marked: never generalise.
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