BACK
HEAD, HEART AND SOUL
The role of the conductor in an opera production is that of captain of a large ship. It requires knowing how to coordinate the energies, egos and fears, the times and aspirations of a large number of people who are creating 'live art' for three hours.
AN ‘ENERGY’ MANAGER
In addition to good hearing and musical qualities, the work of the orchestra conductor requires being a good manager of their own and collective emotions, teamwork, empathy, leadership, capacity for dialogue and decision. It also requires nerves of steel and physical and psychological resistance to move forward come what may.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE HANDS
During an opera production, the conductor coordinates the musicians, the artists and the technicians; he talks non-stop with all of them and at the same time is using his body and his gaze, using his hands that never stop working.
UNTIL 2010 A WOMAN HAD NEVER DIRECTED AN OPERA AT THE TEATRO REAL
The director, Eun Sun Kim, or "the Asun", as her teammates from the Theatre's orchestra affectionately called her, has worked as assistant director of the Real since the 2008/2009 season. She was the first woman, at only 29 years old, who directed an opera in the pit of the Teatro Real in 2010. She considers herself "a musician among all musicians".