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Does a conductor need to know how to play all the instruments? Why are musical notes alone not enough for an orchestra to play? What are the meanings behind the different gestures used by a conductor?
If you want answers to all these questions and many more, join us at the French Institute of Finland for the Night of the Arts, where we will host the French conductor James Kahane for an exclusive meeting! Mr. Kahane is the Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Canada, Principal Conductor of the Helsinki Chamber Orchestra, and Principal Conductor of the Drôme Chamber Orchestra in France. During this event, he will explain the principles of his profession, helping you understand the meaning of the gestures that he uses and their impact on how the orchestra interprets a piece. At the end, Mr. Kahane will answer your questions about this fascinating but not so well-known subject.
The meeting will be organized in three different slots, each lasting one hour. The first starts at 1:30 PM, the second at 3:00 PM, and the last at 4:30 PM. The language of the event is English. The event is open to everyone and does not require any musical knowledge. Free entry.
James S. Kahane
James S. Kahane is the Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Helsinki Chamber Orchestra, and Principal Conductor of the Drôme Chamber Orchestra. Praised for his ability to “connect musical phrases as well as musicians with both flexibility and determination” (Bachtrack) and for “pushing the orchestra to the extreme” (Keskisuomalainen), he has conducted leading orchestras worldwide, such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. He also conducts the annual Francophonie Concert, organized by the French Institute of Finland in Helsinki.