Rob Lott’s Post

Yesterday marked the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony's premiere - you know, the Ode to Joy, that also became the official anthem of the European Union. I have long found creative industries very inspirational about how novelties can break through and touch a wider audience. Movies introduced test screenings, iterations and conscious team castings long before any MVPs or startup building methods were introduced. Music is also a lot of things from cooperation through reaching out to applying technology. The creation process is often hindsight obvious to result in a great result. Classical music is (or should be) a very interesting case: Europe (yes, in that case we can say Europe) produced a lot of masterpieces. Pieces that engage either the "micro audiences" of many different cultures within Europe and also far beyond. But why? And how? Well, let's have a look at Beethoven's 9th: - Beethoven himself is German, with Flemish roots but moving to Vienna - interestingly, international cooperation was quite natural: authors and composers of different nations were not only exposed to eachothers' work, but also actively looking for cooperations (just think about Opera premiers and the criss-crossing travels of many artists) - for example, the particular symphony was commissioned by the London Philharmonics, Beethoven planned the premiere to take place in Berlin (that version was dedicated to the king of Prussia) - at the end, the first performance happened in Vienna. So for classical music, Europe worked well even in a highly fragmented and war-torn state (and still works to some degree). It's interesting how difficult it is for us to replicate a similar attitude in basically any other industries. To move, to scout inspiration and co- beyond borders and to see markets appropriately. Anyway, the inspiration has been with us for 200 years now :)

#Mondaymotivation and #inspiration from Elim 🎶 #attitude #mindset #leadershipmatters Bring it. Be the one. Last week, I posted a series of posts about attitude. I hope you will allow me to share one more. On Friday evening, it was the first night of the BBC Proms with conductor Elim Chan making her First Night of the Proms debut presenting Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony. Beethoven’s 5th was written in the early 1800s and first performed in 1808. Since then, it has been performed countless times by thousands of musicians, orchestras and conductors. It has, probably, the most famous opening 4 notes in music. Many will know the tune, even if they are not classical music fans. It must be a challenge for conductors and musicians alike to bring a fresh perspective to such a well-known and often performed symphony. It requires a special talent to achieve such a feat. Yet, on Friday, we witnessed Elim bring a new energy to the piece leading the BBC Symphony Orchestra to a performance that everyone who was there appreciated and will always remember being part of. A truly great live performance depends on 3 things; an inspired and motivated team, a receptive audience, and a great leader to spark the whole thing into life. Once sparked, the 3 parties feed off the energy in, I guess, a form of fusion to produce a truly memorable experience for all those involved. If you are about to start a new week, doing something you’ve done many times before, do it with excellence. Bring the energy. The good energy. The energy you bring makes a difference. The difference. It makes a difference to you, your team, and your customers. Bring it. Be the one. #moremotivationmonday “If I have the courage to pursue what I love, then so do you.” Elim Elim Chan | One of the most sought-after artists of her generation… #inspireothers #inspirational #inspirationalleader #leadership #leadershipqualities #motivation #motivationalmonday #team #mindsetmonday #mindsetmatters #mindsetforsuccess #success #teamwork #employeeexperience #ex #employeeengagement #customerexperience #cx #journey #hope #solace #triumph

It is almost the weekend, yet I cannot help but share with you a dose of leadership inspiration taken today at my favorite source - conducting during an open rehearsal of the orchestra of the Warsaw Philharmonic led by maestro Stefano Montanari. It was a rare occasion as it happens only few times in the season. And delightful feast to listen, as well as fascinating energy flow to watch. Being conductor myself I am always fascinated to hear how the maestro's are dealing with teams while working with different choirs, orchestras and ensembles all over the world, which requires quick gaining of authority and wining the team over (sometimes it is only a few days or hours of rehearsals before the concert). - Maestro, you are working with different orchestras, so what is your way of drawing the best out of people to perform at the higher standards? - he was asked during the Q&A that followed. - Firstly, I try to feel the situation and create the comfort zone for everyone, so that every musician may play as good as they are. And for that I need to understand them, and their challenges related to the piece, so that I may help them to overcome. And than... to convince them that I am the best in the world! - he added with twinkle in his eye :) Rest was joking about 'no democracy' while working with orchestra, and calling his style 'dictatura illuminata'! Of course, this is the characteristic of the job, with a clear vision and leadership required to paint picture of sounds with musicians' skills and talents. Knowing what kind of leadership is required for s certain job is one thing. Yet, the way one does it, it is always a choice. --- So, his secret ingredients to win people over and lead purposely is: Standing in the calling and understanding one's leading role. Clear vision and giving directions. Taking the place of authority and decision making, yet with focus on those that are entrusted in your hands. Belifving in them (I just watched a few interviews with him and noticed that he always emphasized how great the musicians are he works with). Knowing who they are and what challenges they have. Support them to overcome the obstacles, while leading them toward your vision. And what is yours leadership receipe? How do you take people on the board and engage your team? How well you know them and their challenges on the way to fulfill the team purpose? Is the purpose and direction clear? And than - where/whom do you take your inspiration from? Please share in the comments! -- If you want to explore your leadership style to be authentic and inline with you, serving the purpose and wining people over let us talk! If you like to hear more - stay tuned - as soon I will tell you about my creative SOUND OF THE TEAM workshop for teams and leaders, when coaching meets conducting. good weekend everyone! extra cherry: https://lnkd.in/dUF7CMvr #leadership #leadlikemaestro #teamcoaching #leadershipcoaching #teamwork

This week, in Germany, I stood in the birthplace of the musical revolution — the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn. What a profound experience to walk the very rooms where Beethoven lived and created. 🙏🏽 A rebellious spirit permeates these walls, challenging us to rethink our creative boundaries. Beethoven’s pioneering approach to reimagining orchestration, expanding musical forms, and infusing deep emotion wasn't just about music. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. From his study, where his breakthrough symphonies took form, to his salon, where his innovative chamber works first echoed, every room in this house has a story to tell. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆? 𝗨𝗻𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹. On my way out of Beethoven-Haus, I reflected on the nature of innovation. A true revolutionary, Beethoven challenged the status quo and pushed the boundaries of what was possible. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀? What frontiers are we hesitant to explore? #Beethoven #Innovation #Creativity #Germany

Left: first page of Scintillation for mixed choir and symphony orchestra (2024, 10') to Emily Dickinson's (1830–1886) poem Hope is a thing with feathers to precede Ludwig van Beethoven's (1770–1827) 9th Symphony Right: first page of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (1824, 60') . . World premiere: 3rd August 2024 at 8 pm in Tapahtumatalo Mikaeli / Mikkelin Mikaeli Oy performed by Helsinki Philharmonic Choir and Saimaa Sinfonietta under the direction of Aliisa Neige Barrière. Tickets via Lippu.fi: https://lnkd.in/dxnB6_ei . . The underlying concept of Scintillation is an imaginary work for mixed choir and symphony orchestra, which Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) never composed to precede the main work of the opening concert of the festival, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (1824). Direct stylistic imitation rarely leads to a convincing result, which is why Scintillation consists of melodic-rhythmic motifs derived from the Ninth Symphony, although the music is tonal throughout. Like Beethoven's symphony, Scintillation begins in silence. However, since it is an introductory work, there are no real long-term climaxes into which the growing intensity would be unleashed, both dynamically and musically – those will occur in the Beethoven symphony. Instead, the music progresses like a breath, always towards the next whole. Dickinson's poem, which in its content anticipates Schiller's Ode to Joy in describing the unquenchable joy and desire for life, proved to be central to the structure during the compositional process. The main theme of the poem's words 'Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul', which appears three times in the work, is a reference to the symphony's hymn theme. Lightness is supported by the material surrounding the theme, which gently envelops the melodic whole. The second verse of the poem, 'And sweetest in the gale is heard', contains, true to the text, stormy climaxes, ending in a startling fortissimo dissonance in F–F-sharp before a halting, melancholy transition towards the atmosphere of the work's opening. However, there is no more powerful climax, and after the main theme's concluding statement, the music merges without pause into the opening measures of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Part 1: The Intriguing Story of the Austrian Gold Philharmonic Coin Hello Precious Metals Group of Marina Del Rey! As we continue our exploration of the diverse world of precious metals, let’s delve into the fascinating history and unique appeal of the Austrian Gold Philharmonic Coin. History The Austrian Gold Philharmonic Coin was first minted in 1989 by the Austrian Mint, one of the world's oldest and most esteemed mints, dating back to 1194. This coin was introduced to celebrate the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, an institution revered globally for its musical excellence. The Philharmonic quickly became a beloved symbol of cultural heritage and fine craftsmanship. Key Factors 1. Design Excellence: The coin’s design is a masterpiece. One side features an array of musical instruments, including the cello, violin, harp, bassoon, and Vienna horn, representing the orchestra’s harmonious beauty. The reverse side showcases the Great Organ of the Golden Hall in Vienna, where the orchestra performs. This design is a tribute to the world-renowned music hall and adds to the coin’s artistic value. 2. Purity and Quality: Made from .9999 fine gold, the Gold Philharmonic is one of the purest gold coins available. This high level of purity makes it highly desirable among investors looking for premium gold products. 3. Global Recognition: The Gold Philharmonic is not only Europe’s best-selling gold coin but also one of the most popular worldwide. Its global recognition ensures its liquidity, making it easy to buy and sell on the international market. 4. Legal Tender: The coin is legal tender in Austria with a face value denominated in euros. While its face value is more symbolic, the intrinsic value of its gold content far exceeds this amount, providing both a hedge against inflation and economic stability. Value Investing in the Austrian Gold Philharmonic offers multiple benefits. The coin’s value appreciates with the price of gold, providing a hedge against inflation and economic downturns. Additionally, its artistic appeal and limited mintage often result in a premium over the spot price of gold. Collectors and investors value the Philharmonic for its beauty, purity, and global recognition, making it a versatile and highly liquid asset. What are your thoughts on the Austrian Gold Philharmonic Coin? Have you considered adding it to your collection, or do you already own one? Share your experiences, insights, and questions in the comments below! We hope you found this exploration of the Austrian Gold Philharmonic as intriguing as we did. Stay tuned for more in our series on precious metals investing. Your input makes our group vibrant and informative, so keep the discussions flowing! Share this post with friends and colleagues who are interested in the fascinating world of investing in precious metals. Let’s grow our community together! Happy Investing!

Have you heard of "Mozart Effect"? Some researchers claim that listening to Mozart Sonata increases your spatial abilities and lifts your mood. There are also various studies that listening to classical music can help you focus. But I have also heard from various people that listening to rock or metal is their jam, especially when they are trying to do deep thinking or get a lot of work done in a short period of time. I have personally experimented with music as a background for work and it definitely helps with concentration and quality of output. However, the playlist depends on what type of work I am doing. It's rock and roll when i am crunching numbers, pop or folk when i am responding to emails or doing something light (yup, singing Taylor Swift or Abba when i am typing that message 😃 ). And when doing deep thinking or writing a document, it is classical. This is my favourite - https://lnkd.in/eU3NPGbA (Sorry Mozart fans, Beethoven does it for me 🎼) 🎶 What's your favourite background music while working, or do you prefer absolute silence? 🎶

We are pleased to share this insightful article in the The Chronicle covering the Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg’s 50th anniversary concert Été Indian for which The NETWORK was a partner. It's inspiring to see the story behind the performances brought to light, emphasizing how far we've come, but also how much further we need to go when it comes to gender representation in classical music, like in so many other fields. The statistics and historical context highlighted in the article show the progress made, but also the persistent challenges. https://lnkd.in/exXxNvua

This is a remarkable conversation between, Leonard Bernstein and Maximilian Schell, where Bernstein explains that Beethoven's 7th Symphony, 2nd movement can't be told to contain any real melody. It rather consists in one note being decorated with some garlands and variations. I use this masterpiece of orchestral music in my curriculum at "THE art of TALK" to explain the crucial importance of speed and rhythm when it comes to public speaking.   But in Bernstein’s explanations is more to find. He states: “There's no aspect of Beethoven in which you can say: Beethoven is great, as a melodist, a harmonist, counterpointist, a tone painter, in his orchestration. You'll find fault with all of them. If you take any one of these elements, separately, you find nobody.” And this applies to speaking: you don't have to be the greatest in any specificity, it is about the way you compose your skills and bring them into a form. Then you have everything it needs to become a great speaker. #LeonardBernstein #Beethoven7th #PublicSpeaking #RhythmAndPace #SpeakingSkills #OrchestrationInSpeech #CommunicationExcellence #MasterfulSpeaking #THEartofTALK

In light of Women's History Month, I wanted to share the below articles about one of the most important and underrated musicians in history; Clara Schumann.   Wife of the famous composer Robert Schumann, Clara was equally one of the most celebrated pianists of her time, and made a huge impact on piano performance as we know it. Fun fact; she and Robert were very close friends with Brahms! See the below to read more about her amazing life! https://lnkd.in/eNcWucC3 https://lnkd.in/e9xy3tbn