Thoughts on Artistic Excellence
Conductor Elliot Moore
I am often asked about what artistic excellence in orchestral performance entails, how to achieve it, and even define it. Long ago, I understood that it was impossible to quantify what makes "good" art. Fortunately, one cannot judge a performance by inputting data into a matrix in order to determine if it has some kind of superior artistic expression. I believe that it is thanks to different cultural experiences and backgrounds that musical taste and varied stylistic approaches may resonate differently in each of us.
All of this said, I do think that it is good to be specific and intentional about what we mean when we talk about artistic excellence as it applies to a symphony organization. I recently read a piece by Doug Borwick titled Excellence in Community Engagement — an excellent article! In my opinion, six categories apply to artistic excellence in the orchestral field.
The first element that is critical to artistic excellence is the technical/expressive abilities of the performing musicians. Both technical expertise and music expression must be present because expression without technique leads to a diminished experience for the audience. The next crucial element that must be present for artistic excellence is programming. These two aspects — the mastery of the performing musicians and programming — are the backbone for artistic excellence. That said, I believe that other elements must be present to achieve artistic excellence.
Musical organizations steeped in European tradition so often curate performances that veer towards passive observation rather than towards creating participatory events for their audiences. While the quality of music-making must always be a priority, the quality of the artistic experience in a participatory type of event is about the excellence of the experience.
Another aspect of artistic excellence is the benefit that the community receives. Ultimately, what this boils down to is how the musical organization is being of service to the community.
Creating personal meaning is also a critical aspect of artistic excellence. The ability for music to resonate with audiences is at the very core of what we do; However, too often, we think that the music can "speak for itself." When we can bring the meaning of the work into relief such that it resonates with people's lives, there is a synergy that occurs with the music and listener that touches their lives and entices them to come back for more.
The last element that I will mention is the venue in which the art takes place. While countless musical works are best brought to life in an acoustically superb concert hall, other repertoire may be best experienced in a more intimate setting, such as a museum, a coffee shop, or even a bar.
I believe that the culmination of these elements is critical for orchestras in the 21st century. Considering artistic excellence in a more holistic approach serves the music, our audiences, communities, and works to create the brightest future possible for classical music in America.