--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somehow, conductor as this superhuman…" description: "\"Somehow, conductor as this superhuman conduit between the masters and the masterpieces and the immortals.\" — Esa-Pekka Salonen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_conductor_somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-con_1878420.jpg" --- # Somehow, conductor as this superhuman conduit between the… ![“Somehow, conductor as this superhuman conduit between the masters and the masterpieces and the immortals.” quote by Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_conductor_somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-con_1878420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_conductor_somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-con_1878420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_conductor_somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-con_1878420.jpg) > “Somehow, conductor as this superhuman conduit between the masters and the masterpieces and the immortals.” [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The conductor acts as a vital bridge linking composers’ intentions, performers’ skills, and timeless music. **In simple terms:** Conductors connect masters, masterpieces, and immortals. Key Takeaway Value the conductor’s role as a conduit. Themes music leadership collaboration Mood inspirational respectful Type reflective educational When to use this quote - orchestra rehearsals - live performances - recording sessions - educational workshops Key Concepts Interpretation musical communication Questions to Reflect On - In what ways does a conductor shape a performance? - How does a conductor balance composer intent and performer input? A Different Perspective May overstate the conductor’s influence over the music itself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conductor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conductor/) [Masterpiece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterpiece/) [Superhuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superhuman/) ## Related quotes > [I was starting a group of musicians and we had a group of young composers in Finland back in the '70s, and the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-was-starting-a-group-of-musicians-and-we-had-a-group-of-young/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [There was this kind of mildly annoying mythology about conductor Like biker should riding a Harley-Davidson on an LP cover, and wearing a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/there-was-this-kind-of-mildly-annoying-mythology-about-conductor-like/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Classic music somehow changed, and it changed between the first and the second world wars, and somehow what happened was that the hero that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/classic-music-somehow-changed-and-it-changed-between-the-first-and/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [The Saints were not superhuman. They were people who loved God in their hearts, and who shared this joy with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-saints-were-not-superhuman-they-were-people-who-loved-god-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“I swim with all my strength. No superhuman surge, or pony heroics; it's just me at my most desperate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/i-swim-with-all-my-strength-no-superhuman-surge-or-pony-heroics-it-s/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [Slave camps under the flag of freedom, massacres justified by philanthropy or the taste of the superhuman, cripple judgment. On the day when crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/slave-camps-under-the-flag-of-freedom-massacres-justified-by/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It is the striving after perfection that makes one an artist. It is the sense that one is imperfect, unfulfilled, unfinished. One attempts by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/it-is-the-striving-after-perfection-that-makes-one-an-artist-it-is/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [“He did not want to be original; he made superhuman efforts to be like everybody else: but there is no escaping one's destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/he-did-not-want-to-be-original-he-made-superhuman-efforts-to-be-like/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [I think Robert Plant is the quintessential frontman - just the way he moves. His voice is superhuman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/i-think-robert-plant-is-the-quintessential-frontman-just-the-way-he/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [genius must ever be imperfect. Life is not long enough nor slow enough for both brain and character to grow side by side to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/genius-must-ever-be-imperfect-life-is-not-long-enough-nor-slow-enough/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [When your desires are strong enough you will appear to possess superhuman powers to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/when-your-desires-are-strong-enough-you-will-appear-to-possess/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Is it too much to ask that women be spared the daily struggle for superhuman beauty in order to offer it to the caresses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/is-it-too-much-to-ask-that-women-be-spared-the-daily-struggle-for/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [A superhuman will is needed in order to write, and I am only a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/a-superhuman-will-is-needed-in-order-to-write-and-i-am-only-a-man/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He's not superhuman. He's not super. So therefore he can't be a superhero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-s-not-superhuman-he-s-not/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [It is human to search for the theory of everything and it is superhuman to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/it-is-human-to-search-for-the-theory-of-everything-and-it-is/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) ## More by Esa-Pekka Salonen > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/there-is-something-very-special-about-this-part-of-the-world-u-s/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Every orchestra I know, every opera house I know, is desperately looking around trying to find new talent, new composing talent, supporting young composers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/every-orchestra-i-know-every-opera-house-i-know-is-desperately/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [After 30 years I have realized the greatest pleasure I can get is to have learnt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/after-30-years-i-have-realized-the-greatest-pleasure-i-can-get-is-to/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Anyone who composes and conducts at the same time is immediately suspect, because he must be faking one or the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/anyone-who-composes-and-conducts-at-the-same-time-is-immediately/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I started conducting lessons and I realized that this is actually something I like doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-started-conducting-lessons-and-i-realized-that-this-is-actually/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I feel very free and very happy to be a composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-feel-very-free-and-very-happy-to-be-a-composer/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I love a visceral sound, the kind that hits you in the belly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-love-a-visceral-sound-the-kind-that-hits-you-in-the-belly/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [We need new art. Old art cannot do that. It can do lots of other things, and of course humanity hasn't changed that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/we-need-new-art-old-art-cannot-do-that-it-can-do-lots-of-other-things/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Pulse as an active means of expression, Stravinsky and Beethoven are the two masters of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/pulse-as-an-active-means-of-expression-stravinsky-and-beethoven-are/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [The underlying process in Northern music tends to be slower and continuous, whatever's happening on the surface; in Southern music the underlying process is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/the-underlying-process-in-northern-music-tends-to-be-slower-and/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [The Royal Festival Hall in London is nice; people hang out there. I think this inviting, non-exclusive character is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/the-royal-festival-hall-in-london-is-nice-people-hang-out-there-i/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [As we watch TV or films, there are no organic transitions, only edits. The idea of A becoming B, rather than A jumping to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/as-we-watch-tv-or-films-there-are-no-organic-transitions-only-edits/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I think we are in the process of getting the word out, and we haven't done very well yet. But we are trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-think-we-are-in-the-process-of-getting-the-word-out-and-we-haven-t/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [With American orchestras, in particular, because they play in such huge halls, getting a true pianissimo is very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/with-american-orchestras-in-particular-because-they-play-in-such-huge/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Sometimes you spend nine months, 10 months, a year writing a piece that you will hear two years later or something like that, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/sometimes-you-spend-nine-months-10-months-a-year-writing-a-piece-that/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) [Explore all 81 Esa-Pekka Salonen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) ## More Conductor quotes > [And there's a metal train that's a mile long and at the very back end a lightning bolt struck her, How long til it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/and-there-s-a-metal-train-that-s-a-mile-long-and-at-the-very-back-end/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I don't feel that the conductor has real power. The orchestra has the power, and every member of it knows instantaneously if you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/i-don-t-feel-that-the-conductor-has-real-power-the-orchestra-has-the/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [The success of our operas rests most of the time in the hands of the conductor. This person is as necessary as a tenor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-verdi/the-success-of-our-operas-rests-most-of-the-time-in-the-hands-of-the/) [Giuseppe Verdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-verdi/) > [I was afraid to board a streetcar because of the conductor; I was afraid to enter the Kabuki Theater for fear of the usherettes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-was-afraid-to-board-a-streetcar-because-of-the-conductor-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [On the other hand, when I give it closer thought, I realize I'm not enough of a dictator to conduct an orchestra because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eberhard-weber/on-the-other-hand-when-i-give-it-closer-thought-i-realize-i-m-not/) [Eberhard Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eberhard-weber/) > [“When you are waiting for a train, don't keep perpetually looking to see if it is coming. The time of its arrival is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-waiting-for-a-train-don-t-keep-perpetually-looking-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I admire Tom Ades: he's a brilliant conductor, and he gets just the right hard, brilliant sound from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/i-admire-tom-ades-he-s-a-brilliant-conductor-and-he-gets-just-the/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [New York for a long time was a kind of conductor's graveyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/new-york-for-a-long-time-was-a-kind-of-conductor-s-graveyard/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Monet was like a conductor. He painted with quite a straight arm and used bold strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/monet-was-like-a-conductor-he-painted-with-quite-a-straight-arm-and/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [Today's parents have little authority over those others with whom they share the task of raising their children. On the contrary,most parents deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/today-s-parents-have-little-authority-over-those-others-with-whom/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [I knew that I'd lived in New York too long when, a few years ago, I was on a subway going downtown, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-knew-that-i-d-lived-in-new-york-too-long-when-a-few-years-ago-i-was/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [Sympathy wanting, all is wanting; its personal magnetism is the conductor of the sacred spark that lights our atoms, puts us m human communion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/sympathy-wanting-all-is-wanting-its-personal-magnetism-is-the/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [I'm a conductor of revivals. The only minister in the whole package. Little Richard, the evangelist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-m-a-conductor-of-revivals-the-only-minister-in-the-whole-package/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [Direction is the most invisible part of the theatrical art. It's not like the conductor in the symphony orchestra performance because he's standing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-teachout/direction-is-the-most-invisible-part-of-the-theatrical-art-it-s-not/) [Terry Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-teachout/) [Browse all 248 Conductor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conductor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Somehow, conductor as this superhuman conduit between the masters and the masterpieces and the immortals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Esa-Pekka Salonen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-conduit-between-the-masters-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conductor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-conduit-between-the-masters-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_conductor_somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-con_1878420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_conductor_somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-con_1878420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_conductor_somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-con_1878420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Somehow, conductor as this superhuman conduit between the masters and the masterpieces and the immortals.” — Esa-Pekka Salonen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Esa-Pekka Salonen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Somehow, conductor as this superhuman conduit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-conduit-between-the-masters-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/somehow-conductor-as-this-superhuman-conduit-between-the-masters-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```