CHUNG AND THE GANG ! End of William Tell..
They just kill it !!!
= new reply since forum marked as read
However, I could not make any sense out of what the conductor was doing. I would not be able to play for him. 
But, as a former professional orchestral musician for many years (and now a retired one who plays in local orchestras just for the joy of it), what he does is very clear to me.
The players in an orchestra of this level have played this piece a gazillion times and know every note in it.
They don't really need a conductor to 'play it.' You will notice, for one thing, he doesn’t just stand there beating time. Orchestras do NOT need a time keeper on the podium. (Unfortunately, there are too many of those.)
Where time is concerned, all they need is an indication of what the tempo is, and tempo changes.
Most of what he wanted, what any conductor wants, was done in rehearsal, presenting his ideas of tempo, dynamics, balance, articulation, bowings, phrasing, intensity, relaxing, shape, etc. He needs to do very little in performance in this piece. Mostly he is just encouraging, reminding.
Every conductor works differently. Compare Chung to, for example, Dudamel, who is all over the place on the podium, or even Simon Rattle. That is their way. Chung is just the opposite. He leaves space for the musicians to fill. His inner force is so strong, he doesn't need to externalize it. He needs to make minumal physical movements to express what he wants. One can just feel it.
He doesn't talk a lot in rehearsal, but when he does he is absolutely clear in what he wants. He invites you to go with him. As with any great conductor, he (she) shows what he wants just by his movements, his body language, his inner force. Just watch his eyes sometime.
Chung is one of the greatest living conductors and is loved and admired by all who play with him. And with good reason. If I were still playing I would play for him anywhere, anytime.
But, again, of one is not a musician, it can look pretty.. confusing.
Thanks for taking the time to look at my post.
ON EDIT: Well you got me to watch it again. THANK YOU !! See all the smiles on the players? They are just having a ball. PARTIALLY, because of the freakin' fast tempo! And when they stand at the end? He didn't know that was coming. A friend of mine in Japan told me why they stood but I forget - something going on in Japanese pop culture at the time I think.
god, I love that man....
