Once, just a few decades ago, conductors and artistic directors had the right to speak and behave however they pleased towards the musicians of their orchestra. The phenomenon of the “tyrant conductor” was expected, though it didn’t necessarily mean one had to be that way to build a career. The reason for what I’m writing to you today is a letter that came to light from a Russian conductor to the members of the brass section of the orchestra he directs, which is based in St. Petersburg. The conductor I’m referring to is Anton Lubchenko, and truthfully, I didn’t know him. I listened to some of his performances, but I confess I wasn’t impressed.

However, I was impressed by the sheer audacity and crude manner in which he addresses the musicians of his orchestra in St. Petersburg, essentially threatening them that he has the power to fire them all, portraying them as subhuman who couldn’t possibly play music and basically don’t deserve such a job because they are simply useless. After numerous threats, he ends up telling them that he will not pay them for their work, and even refers to his military logic that “that’s how things are, like in the army, if one person in your team makes a mistake, you all suffer,” reminding me of the well-known saying, “where logic ends, the army begins.”

I didn’t believe that such practices of imposition and despotism could still exist in 2025, but apparently, they do. Perhaps Russia’s international isolation also plays a role, emboldening people to act as commissars instead of exercising leadership as they ought to from their position. And I wonder, ultimately, what is the purpose of such practices from the first half of the 20th century (and earlier)? If someone is not a good musician, as the conductor claims, they probably will never be able to play well. If, on the other hand, they are good but are bored or unwilling, then this is a good wake-up call for the conductor that he is probably not doing his job well. In both cases, as always, the leader bears the greatest part of the responsibility: either because he didn’t choose correctly or because he cannot make his colleague work as they should. I set aside any complex behaviors and once again think how wonderful and how lucky we all are to be here, in the West, where you have a way to react to such practices and bullying. And of course, it saddens me that some who serve something as high as music is to me, think with such pettiness. Perhaps they don’t deserve the opportunity they are given to be involved with music.

P.S. I read the story that enraged me here
https://slippedisc.com/2025/07/brutal-russian-conductor-penalises-his-musicians/