Paris’s rain-soaked conductor has his say
NewsThe Romanian Cristian Macelaru who conducted the Orchestre National de France through torrential rain at the Olympic Games opening has tweeted some pictures and impressions. Cristian says:
‘The experience of being at the heart of a global event that promotes excellence in human achievement inspires me to reflect deeply on my journey, past and future. We all can be better at promoting values rooted in respect, honesty, compassion and fairness.
Watching the ceremony from the best seat in the house, I learned that the truly great are those who bring humanity into everything they do. The words that linger on in my ears were those spoken by @FilippoGrandi when he said, “Nobody wants to be a refugee.”
‘Perhaps this is a chance for all of us to stand up against hate, against war and to excel in understanding our potential for a better humanity. I truly believe we have this power in our hands. Now let’s go forth and reach its potential!’
God for him!
Climate change will inevitably lead to the largest mass migrations ever seen in human history.
Yes, nobody wants to be a refugee. But unfortunately, in the future, everyone will have to worry about the availability of habitat and resources. Unless we industrialists also manage to get by with less.
People aren’t leaving South Sudan, the Arabian continent, Pakistan and the Indian sub-continent because of climate change. They want a better life! And they’re pretending to be seeking asylum.
Your “better life” beyond South Sudan, Arabia and Pakistan is clearly related to the climatic conditions currently experienced north and south of the Equator.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Please do not infect others with your fear
Please don’t infect others with your populist climate change denial.
As opposed to the globalist, elitist climate hoax that’s making everybody skint?
What do you suggest!? Not heating our houses when minus 8°C outside in Glasgow????
Harris Tweed and a wee dram at -8°C is still better than +45° and no water in South Sudan.
Time to leave the comfort zone of the industrialised northern hemisphere!
Tell that to the billionaires buying beachfront properties in Florida!
Not sure how they did that. When I was as a student in an orchestra and we played outside, which rarely happened, at the first raindrop all our instruments were in their case before you could open an umbrella (playing violin)
They used inexpensive instruments.
The good ones were locked away.
They played along to pre-recorded soundtrack. No-one heard their actual playing.
Images of Alexandre Kantorow playing the piano out in the rain simply turned me right off.
Inexpensive instruments?
amen.
That’s the spirit!
Who wrote that nonsense word salad?
Like I said the other day. Nobody was whingeing about the rain except the media.
They used the recordings, exactely like London 2012, which nor Macelaru nor Mäklelä had anything to do with
Disgusting display of last supper by gays….should be ashamed.
insufferable
Felicitari, Maestro! Bun venit la Cincinnatti!
Nothing about the outrage of the images of musicians instruments in rain? And why they didn’t think to cover the stage to protect the musicians? Where’s the protocol?
Even if they had crap instruments, it seems outrageous that nothing was done to minimize the risk.
I use a carbon fibre and I still would have had a major issue with this.
Prerecorded or not
Probably one of the most boring conductors out there.
Why did they even bother to pretend to play – as a musician I was upset thinking of the needless damage to all these instruments – I’m sure a contingent rain shelter of some sort wouldn’t have been too difficult to arrange if they wanted a truly live performance.
I believe Christian Marcelaru’s comments are worth reflecting on. Each of us has an opportunity each day to consider/reconsider how we relate to each other and the planet. For me, the arts, from the time I got interested in them in my late teens, have always been about becoming a more informed and growing person. I’m hoping this doesn’t come across as some weak cliche. The more I move into my late sixties, the more evidence I personally see as the arts having the key role to humanise/rehumanise me/you. It’s understandable that we can become cynical about such things as respect, fairness, justice, inequality and so on and feel a sense of powerlessness but I still cling to the idea that I can behaive in the world the way I’d like the world to be. I have failed many times but I want to try again. Best wishes.