I'll give you that, sunshine.

The problem with youth orchestras is that they play a piece exactly as they have rehearsed it with their regular conductor. They put their heads down and just read the dots on the page. Autopilot mode. Another conductor steps forward and they ignore what the new bloke is doing. Had they had more rehearsal time with Previn they would have adjusted to what he wanted. "Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them.” - Richard Strauss. Very true!!

He was marvellous with the orchestra. We also recorded an Argo LP with him, Sir Michael Tippett and Sir Arthur Bliss conducting. Unforgettable experience from my youth!!!

What a privilege for you to have performed under him!! It's quite obvious he was marvelous with any orchestra, young or old. And the respect was clearly mutual. I recently viewed his performance with the NHK of the Prokofiev 5, which must have been when he was close to 90. He seemed a bit feeble (though certainly not his performance). His Rachmaninoff 2 with them, I would think, was when he was a few years younger. I recall an interview with him on PBS years ago. He recounted an amusing anecdote about Adrian Boult, who had been asked what he would like to be conducting if he died on the podium. Sir Adrian replied 'I hope it's something they can finish without me.' I saw Sir Andre conduct live, regrettably only once, with the Pittsburg in Toronto, again many years ago (before he was 'Sir'). But I've been an admirer of him, in all genres, for more than 50 years. A marvelous and elegant artist and human being!PS: I also recall from the same PBS interview, whose host said he had no talent. Sir Andre said 'you no doubt have the talent, just not the skills.' A gracious response.

@@iansutton9746 I heard him do Rach 2 with the LSO at De Montfort Hall, Leicester in 1972. I went backstage and we had a nice chat. He also signed my copy of the Argo LP we made with him.

John: You are indeed very fortunate to have met him, played under him presumably and worked with him. The Rach 2 with the LSO in '72 was before the Leicestershire SSO performance of the Dances. (Presume you were a member of the LSSO...would be interested in what instrument). It's not that often, I suppose, that woodwinds play such a prominent and almost more-than equal role, but always in Rachmaninoff. That rehearsal segment was priceless and says such a lot about him, his polite persistence and charm. Until I heard his LS Rach 2 CD recently, I realized he recorded it for Argo so many years ago. (I once managed and owned a classical CD store in the '90s and early 2000s and managed a Canadian classical station before that.)

@@iansutton9746 I was a fiddle player in the LSSO. I think his third recording of Rach 2 was on Telarc not Argo. I have only heard his two earlier LSO versions on RCA (with cuts) and EMI (complete).

It was just great and two years earlier he made a record with us for the Argo label. Happy days.

He also made an LP with the LSSO in 1970 for the Argo label.

So what's your problem? I can't have my opinion? 10 years passed and I'm still in the same place.

Reminds me of Lenny's altercation with a triangle player in a different video of a different youth orchestra: "It sounds like a doorbell!"

He continued to be one of the world's great conductors until his death in 2019. He held posts with the LSO. Pittsburgh SO, Los Angeles Phil, RPO and Oslo Phil. Not to mention his appearances as a pianist and his work as a composer.

Really? I never had any problems following him.

And I suppose you could do better, right? And PLAY the Symphonic Dances on the piano with Ashkenazy? And play jazz with Oscar Peterson? And write award winning scores for some of history's finest musicals? And arrangements? And take a major orchestra to world renowned heights? (not withstanding he spoke several languages) Do you realize how stupid you sound with your asswipe comment? I once had the privilege to meet Andre after a concert. I wanted his autograph but all I had was a score of Debussy's Children's Corner suite. I asked him to sign that. He said, "Are you sure you want me to deface this beautiful music?" His humility was absolutely staggering! I suggest you refrain from making anymore uneducated comments and go crawl back under your stone pal.

@@Mrphilharmonic ha ha ha, funny

@Nathaniel's Phone He's not just wrong: he's an utter idiot.

Some of the most exacting conductors can be amongst the most boring. What counts here is the transformation he gets out of a youth orchestra in a very short space of time. I bet no one in this band forgot that session.

Exactly. It's not all about the geometry :-)

@@troo_story Let me suggest you mind your own business.

@AndreyRubtsovRU what a dull soul

He was a huge TV celebrity during his time in the UK with the LSO in the 1970s. A very fine conductor and a champion of British music. His RCA Vaughan Williams cycle is a superb achievement. Some critics say that he was a first rate conductor of second rate music. A bit harsh but I see where they are coming from. He's not a "go to" conductor when it comes to Brahms and Beethoven. Who cares. He has a fabulous recorded legacy and he was a joy to work with.

@john1951w I agree. For me RVW is a first rate music composer, doesn't matter what others say about it. His recording of Holst' Planet with LSO from 1974 was my first and favourite one. Until I've found Karajan with BPO 🙂, nonetheless I still value the Previn's version.

And what is the technic missing ?