Written by:
Pam Huwig
Conducting Passion
"Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life," according to Beethoven. Too bad that unitl the 20th centurey, only men's love affairs with music were deemed worthy of note.
As conductor and artistic director of The Women's Philharmonic in San Francisco, Apo Hsu resurrects works of female composers from their stifled past and exposes new artists for modern audiences. "Once, after a concert I conducted, a young girl asked her mother if men could also be conductorrs. The mother replied, 'Sure, if they're good enough,'" syas Hsu.
Hsu began working with The Women's Philharmonic in 197, after conducting for several prestigious orhcestras. "Music is an additional layer of human expression," remarks Hsu. "When I first heard The Women's Philharmonic play live, I realized we all understood the language of artistic excellence."
Now in her second season as conductor, Hsu's dynamic and sometimes playful style has charmed a growing addience. The Philharmonic will released a CD next fall of pieces by Florenc Price.
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