Air Quote by Esa-Pekka Salonen
“The act of conducting in itself, of waving my arms in the air and being in charge, I didn't miss. I missed the sensual pleasure of being in contact with music.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Music magazine, 2015
Conducting offers authority, but the true joy lies in intimate, sensory connection with the music itself.
In simple terms: Conducting is power; music is feeling.
Key Takeaway
Seek deep musical immersion beyond leadership.
Themes
music
conducting
sensory
artistry
leadership
Mood
contemplative
inspired
artistic
Type
interview
reflective
When to use this quote
- orchestra rehearsals
- solo performances
- music education
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
embodiment
presence
aesthetic experience
creativity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can conductors balance authority and feeling?
- What practices deepen musical immersion?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on authority can neglect artistic expression.
![“There is something very special about this part of the world [U.S], which is the openness and the curiosity and the lack of prejudice and the lack of generally accepted norms as to what art should be and how an artist's career should go and all that.” quote by Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/503/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_accepted_there-is-something-very-special-about-th_45594.jpg)
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)
