The conductor who took up boxing
OrchestrasThe FT has a fabulous Shirley Apthorp interview with Elim Chan, the Hong Kong conductr who says she has turned down invitations to work in China because of restrictions on her freedom of speech.
… This season, she will make her debuts not only with the Staatskapelle Berlin but also with the New York Philharmonic, the Orchestra de Paris and in Montreal, Minnesota, Seattle and at the Salzburg Festival. There will be first collaborations in Copenhagen, Cologne and Stuttgart, and she returns to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and London’s Philharmonia.
… Chan is small in stature but has the poise of a gymnast. “Boxing!” she exclaims by way of explanation. “It keeps me healthy.”
Read on here.
I was expecting this to be about John Eliot Gardiner.
The late Estonian conductor Eri Klas was a lightweight junior boxing champion of his country. He also served as a member of the Estonian Olympic Committee.
I don’t have seen many women conducters in concert or opera but Elim Chan is the one I prefer. I know Haitink worked with her during his last years. I remember also on tv a RCO concert Tchaikovsky she did very prommissing; It seems that since then she has not returned to Amsterdam. it’s a shame.
Many a orchestral player has taken up boxing BECAUSE of conductors.
> “Some years ago, I was offered the option. It would mean that I cannot post certain things; cannot say certain things in order to work in a certain place. Yeah, no thanks. And I still stand behind that. But it’s tough, because what about touring? What about the audience? They’re innocent, right?”
Very touching Elim is sorry for the Chinese audience, who is clearly dying to hear her but unable to do so because she is oh so principled. Which tour is she expecting to lead in China?
Indeed. Why can’t she say “Boxing keeps me healthy” in China?
And if she has anything else to say, she should try doing it with her conducting.
Also she’ll be in Chicago conducting Sheherazade in May!
Very much looking forward to it.
I just heard that famed Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi was once into rugby. Seriously.
Organist here: light Muay Thai or MMA is also great, if you find strength training boring (although it’s recommended for testosterone production). Just remember to wrap your hands.