The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Presents: Music Meets Business.(Video recording review)

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Presents: Music Meets Business. DVD. Directed by Ayelet Heller. [Germany]: EuroArts Music International, 2005. 2051837. $16.99.

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, established in Boston in 1972 was founded by cellist, Julian Fifer, with the intent of creating a professional ensemble that performed professionally without a conductor. That did not mean however that its performances were without leadership. The leadership was planned from the start to be internal and shared by all players. Within a given composition, leadership roles are dictated by the music, giving more weight to those performers whose musical roles are more substantial. This model, based on the standard performing mode for chamber music, has precedent in Baroque performance practice, where the keyboard player (generally a harpsichordist) conducted from the instrument, all the while taking part in the music making. In the Classical era, Mozart performed most of his piano concertos in this manner as well. Still, the pervasiveness and steadfast intent of Orpheus's conductorless band of 20-25 musicians over the last 33 years makes this chamber orchestra unique. The numerous Grammy winning CDs and DVDs the group has produced and their yearly concert seasons and tours attest to their success and popularity.

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Presents: Music Meets Business, a film by Ayelet Heller, presents the "Orpheus Process" and how its adaptation might influence the management styles of business organizations throughout the world. In the 1980's, chief executive ...