Forgotten symphony founder remembered
Antonia Nantel, not a famous name in Montreal, perhaps better known as the wife of Athanase David, was one of the founders of the Montreal symphony. Something’s likely to be named for her soon. (She was also the grandmother of politicians Hélène and Françoise David.)
This Radio-Canada piece says Nantel’s plan was to “doter le Québec d’un premier orchestre francophone.” Was there already an existing anglo orchestra? And in classical music, does it even matter? I don’t know much about that world, but it doesn’t seem to put a lot of importance on your place or language of origin, if you can play the music.
Joey 09:25 on 2021-05-16 Permalink
I suppose it matters if the conductor speaks English only – how could French-speaking musicians participate? Moreover, especially in years past you’d assume an “English” orchestra wouldn’t even consider French musicians.
Kate 10:22 on 2021-05-16 Permalink
Most highly trained classical musicians and conductors will be accustomed to getting by in several languages. These people train in different countries and move around depending on what they’re offered and what they want to do. I’d guess that the higher ranking ones would pick up English, French and Italian as they go along – maybe German too, depending on the kind of music they favour – plus of course the language of music notation is Italian already. All a conductor has to do is leap onto a podium and yell “Adagio!” and point their wand, and everyone knows what they want.
Joey 10:35 on 2021-05-16 Permalink
I was talking about the 1930s, just to be clear…
Kate 10:42 on 2021-05-16 Permalink
True enough, people may not have been so mobile then, but I bet classical types still got around. It’s an elite world. Ocean liners existed.
PatrickC 15:09 on 2021-05-17 Permalink
An orchestra is more than the musicians and the conductors. It is about the network of philanthropists and patrons, and the social capital associated with sponsorship of high culture. In the era before big government subsidies, private patronage was crucial, and the linguistic divide, not to mention other forms of ethnic and religious exclusivity, would have played a major role in the social circles from which the patrons were drawn.