Robert Baldwin wrote:

>Are there other memorable conducting incidents anyone knows of? Wasn't
>there an (in)famous conductor who was so obnoxiously dictatorial to his
>orchestra that some of the members took him out back after a rehearsal or
>performance and beat him up?

I don't know about that, but I do remember from history class that
Jean-Baptiste Lully who impaled himself in the toe with his conducting
stick (he used a cane which he beat on the floor -- not like the batons
these days).  He contracted gangrene, refused to have his toe amputated,
and died.  Poor fellow.:-(

-Lindsey Orcutt
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