From an interesting and entertaining fly-on-the-wall-view of the orchestral life by music journalist and blogger Jessica Duchen of Jessica Duchen's Classical Music Blog:
The most unpopular face tends to be the one facing the band from the podium. Tony [Byrne, London Philharmonic Orchestra co-principal viola] recounts, "When I first joined the orchestra, an old-timer took me to one side and said, 'Laddy, one thing you have to learn: the conductor is your natural enemy,' as if it was a blood sport!". The cliche of the autocratic maestro, stamping and screaming at his cowering band, is sadly based on fact.
RTWT here.
It's The Music, Stupid!
Peggy
