I frequently receive post-concert emails via my website, and while most of the time it’s people who want to discuss the finer points of the performance or to ask about my approach to a piece of music, I occasionally get one of those messages that has me scratching my head. Below, a correspondence following our Shostakovich concert:
Subject: Conductor’s Mane Distracts
Last evening (11/12/11) I attended a concert of the Minnesota Orchestra where Ms. Hicks conducted Shostakovich’s 5th symphony (“Inside The Classics” series). It was a great concert, a magnificent concert. Ms. Hicks is a brilliant conductor; however, her long hair swaying wildly is a distraction. A MAJOR distraction. She passionately and moves her head alot during the more dramatic moments of the symphony and thus her hair gets tossed back and forth like a frantic metronome. I can’t tell you how many times my concentration was annoyingly interrupted in the concert due to her hair. Advice: get a chic updo and give the audience the musical movement instead of the hair movement. If you don’t believe me, have someone sit in the audience and videotape Ms. Hicks as she conducts and tell me how one’s eyes gravitate to her hair. It reminds me of when one is in a bar or restaurant where multiple TVs are playing. You know the scene: as much as we want to give all our attention to the friend(s) we are with, our eyes are involuntarily averted to the TV images, over and over again. Ms. Hicks distracts the audience to involuntarily watch her hair flipping, swaying and dancing about instead of the real reason we are in Orchestra Hall – to hear the magnificent musical art performed by the world-class Minnesota Orchestra.
I don’t know how I feel about being compared to a TV in a bar, but I do know that I receive far more comments about my appearance than a male conductor would. There, I’ve said it. As much as we like to tout our enlightenment when it comes to gender equality, I know I’m being judged on slightly different criteria than my male colleagues.
Every now and then there’s some kind of uproar over concert attire, as we saw with the Yuja Wang-orange dress debacle this past summer. I’ve taken my fair share of critiques for what I wear onstage (for the record, and for those of you who have not been to one of our concerts, it’s usually flowy slacks and a sleeveless top); I think part of it has to do with the fact that women don’t have a uniform like men do, so we have automatic leeway, which makes some people uncomfortable.
I received some harsh criticism from a very unhappy gentleman in Raleigh, NC last year over the fact that I wasn’t wearing a jacket and baring my arms; I pointed out to him that the soloist I was performing with was in a strapless sating gown, but that didn’t seem to dissuade him from ranting about the “inappropriateness” of my attire! There’s no accounting for taste, I suppose. I discovered several years ago, after tearing a rotator cuff, that it’s much easier, physically, to conduct without the impediment of a jacket, or any sleeves at all. Why not do what’s most comfortable?
But this really was the first time I was criticized for something that is a part of my physical being rather than something I put on. I don’t know about all you ladies out there with lengthy tresses, but putting long hair in an “updo” (or up at all) for longer than an hour or so gives me headaches. It’s just easiest to wear it long. Again, a comfort thing. I couldn’t imagine anyone complaining about James Levine’s fuzzy halo impeding one’s view of the woodwinds, or Christoph Eschenbach’s bald pate reflecting the glare of stage lights, both of which I’ve witnessed.
While I appreciate that the audience is watching me some of the time, I would hope that they’re looking at the orchestra as well (and I will note that there are plenty of women in the Minnesota Orchestra who wear their hair down during concerts. And move their heads around, to boot. Just sayin’…). And, finally, I always feel like it’s a double standard; if I dress too conservatively, as I did very early on in my career (short hair, boxy suits), I run the risk of being called “dowdy” (yes, this did happen, believe it or not) – and when I embrace my femininity (long hair, fashionable attire), I’m deemed “distracting”…or worse. Long story short; a girl can’t win, so you might as well be comfortable.
Well said. Anyways, are we there to watch the orchestra, or to listen to it? (Unless your hair makes a lot of *noise,* in which case…)
I’m thankful to work in a profession that’s peopled largely by women (and, so, often don’t deal with such things in the workplace), and I’m always a little taken aback when I learn of such blatant gender-based idiocy in the world…
As an <30 woman excited about classical music, I'm thrilled you're a part of the Minnesota Orchestra. You do us proud.
Thanks, Allie. And, for the record, I have very quiet hair…
Oh man… getting criticism like this is unreal.
I will confess that I find myself getting distracted by a way a performer will move or “act” sometimes, and if it starts taking away my enjoyment of their performance, I will close my eyes. There was a piano performance major at my college who had this terrible grimace while she played the most moving and gorgeous Beethoven piano sonatas. That’s when I learned to close my eyes.
Anyway, thank you Sarah, for persevering the sexist trolls that still impact our world. We got your swishing hair covered back!
On an aside, since you brought up the Shostavovich, and I sat through the Scherzo during the fantasy camp rehearsals and performance, as well as the concert a couple weeks ago. It was quite a dramatic change! Specifically the tempo at the end of the phrase where you totally slowed down in September (which I had gotten used to), but in November, I don’t think there was a slow down at all. Could you talk a bit about the evolution of your thinking about specific movement from Sept to Nov?
I like to think that I keep evolving as a thinking musician, and there are certainly past performances that I would completely reconsider! In the case of Shosty 5, this was my third go-around, and during the September concerts I thought I’d try something new in the Scherzo (it was a Rostropovich-ism, by the way). Turns out, I didn’t like it. So I reverted back to what I usually do. I guess that’s the luxury of doing repertoire multiple times…
I’m going to go out on a limb and say the reviewer in question has never had long hair. Because anyone who has will tell you how “chic updos” have a habit of unraveling at the most annoying times. Especially during strenuous activities (like conducting world-famous orchestras). And then someone else will email and complain that you looked messy. The only way to avoid this is to tie it up so tightly that, like you said, it hurts. And if s/he’s expecting you to cut it off, I bet you’d get just as many people, if not more, asking where the hair went, that they miss it. Like you said, when it comes to appearance, a girl can’t win.
To me, the symbol of femininity is inspiring; I love it. Over the years women have been told they’re a distraction clamping down their chin on a violin, bowing a stringed instrument in presto passages, sticking a cello between their legs, and making facial distortions while playing flute and oboe, so I guess complaints about swinging hair means we’ve made progress. I recently came across an amazing quote by violinist Marie Hall from 1905 – “I want to be myself, with a method and style of my own. If I were a man I should like to be the conductor of an orchestra. I should love it. That is not impossible, is it? although you are unfortunate enough to be a girl…” Sadly, to the best of my knowledge, she never did get to conduct. After I read that interview with her, I wondered what she’d have thought of you. I bet she would tell you to leave your hair just the way you think it looks best.
Male conductors tend to be very ostentatious in their appearance–I always thought that was part of the show. I was at the Shostakovich performance and it was fantastic. And please keep your hair as is!
The commenter must be tonsorially-challenged.
You’re in superb company (and vice versa)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef015437101d60970c-600wi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6CPiMC8n4
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/rsno-0409.jpg
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gustavo-Dudamels-Hair/347775372906
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFdVjZ7Xfmk
etc.
Leopold… heh heh heh
Emily – what a fantastic – though heartbreaking – quote!
Yolanda, thanks, hair is the least of my concern when I’m onstage.
RN – I guess I’ll know that I’ve really made it when I have a Facebook page for my hair, eh?
Its too bad you didn’t include that persons name in that post. After I read what was written I did the head scratch myself wondering what in the world that person was thinking of. In October of this year I was fortunate enough to see you and the Minnesota Orchastra when you came to Grand Rapids. This was my first time, and I was totally amazed with the whole performance. I was seated just a few rows back of center stage and I don’t remember anything distrcting about how you conducted the orchastra. I did watch the various members and noted the different personalities as they played and I remember thinking how fortunate I am to see true professional sharing their God given talent.
I am a retired sailor who traveled the world for over 25 years and I have seen the wonders of this world knowing that some people would only see this in pictures in a book. That evening in Grand Rapids will rank up there with the things that I was blessed to take in. Two thoughts to that person: would they critisize a profesional football player with flowing hair running at them to make a tackle? Second, As my father said many times “That person is why there are more horses behinds than there are horses”
Thank you for sharing your God given talent with me. I hope to see another one of your performances in the near future. Take care and May God continue to bless you in all that you do.
It looks like this thread is about done, but I’ll comment anyway….
I’ve not seen a male conductor with hair like yours, Sarah. I’ve also never seen a male conductor toss his head around the way you do when you’re conducting. Some male conductors have their quirks, but for the most part, they tend to not want the audience to focus as much on them as on the music, which I would expect would be what you want also, yes?
I’m sure there are styles that are both comfortable and up, secured well so that they don’t come down. Have you sought out a stylist to help you? But you might also consider how you move your head and if you have neck pain after rehearsal or a concert. If you’re moving your head enough for your hair to be flying around, that’s got to be hard on your neck. Rock musicians do that kind of thing all the time, too, for the attention.
Under the stage lights, isn’t your long hair hot on your neck? It’d drive me crazy. When you bow, your hair often obscures your face, which I personally do not like. It’s a rock musician’s bow — hey, see, I’m flipping my hair! Don’t like that.
You have beautiful hair. I can understand your desire to show it off to the world. However, do you want the audience focused on you while you conduct, i.e. watching your hair flip and dance around? I mean, I’ve met male conductors with huge egos but even they have not wanted the audience to focus on them but on the music.
So, which is it for you? Wearing your hair in a style that keeps it off your face so the musicians can see it, so it doesn’t cover your face when you bow, and it’s not flying around distracting the audience? Plus getting it off your neck so you’re cooler, and not moving your head so much to send your hair flying, perhaps giving you more comfort and not injuring your neck? Please seek out a good stylist who can help you with this!
Or keeping the status quo?
Cinda
Cinda, I hope I’ve misunderstood, but it seems you’re insinuating that Sarah has an ego bigger than male conductors because she has long hair and moves around a lot? And that the way she bows is purely for attention?? Seriously? I can understand someone saying they personally don’t care for the hairstyle, but not the insinuation that it’s an indication that Sarah thinks more highly of herself than of the music she’s conducting……
Sorry, Emily, you misunderstood. How could you have jumped to those conclusions? Really?
To be clear, I’m questioning Sarah’s priorities: music or hair? Connecting favorably with the audience or hair? Letting the musicians and audience see her face or hair? That’s it.
The manner in which Sarah conducts CAN BE seen as calling attention to herself. Or her hair. Whichever. Rock musicians don’t much care how the audience interprets their moves on stage as long as everyone’s having fun. Professional conductors, whether big egos or not, should want the audience’s full attention on the music, not at all on them for any reason. I’m suggesting that Sarah could give a little here regarding her hair style in the interests of keeping the attention off her hair and her. The audience member who wrote to her clearly felt very strongly about this…as do I.
Conductors also need to consider the service side of their jobs — they are there to serve the composer/score, the musicians AND the audience by putting the focus entirely on the music. I’m talking about classical subscription concerts. With Pops it’s a different world entirely. Then the conductor becomes a performer, a personality, more often than not. Think Fiedler, for example. For Inside the Classics, where the goal is to help people understand, enjoy, and learn more about classical music, it would seem especially important for the conductor to keep the focus on the music and not on anyone’s physical appearance.
I saw a really really bad conductor once (not an American, btw) who conducted the Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto by every phrase or so either looking over his shoulder at the audience or actually turning his body toward the audience as if to say, “Hey, look at me, look at me!” It was awful and the pianist had sheer terror all over his face. The orchestra was following the concertmaster more than the conductor. I have never seen any conductor on OH’s stage ever do this. But that’s an example of a big ego, I think.
Hope this has clarified things, Emily. Sorry you misunderstood!
Cinda
Okay, interesting. I think we totally disagree but thanks for some clarification…