A fateful anniversary for Lully

Composers Datebook

When you were a kid, did your mother warn you about playing with sharp sticks?

Well, conductors play with sharp sticks, and it can prove dangerous. In 1976, while conducting Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, conductor Georg Solti managed to stab himself in the forehead with his own baton during the third act, causing quite a bloody mess. It’s said Solti had already broken two batons during Acts I and II but managed not to hurt anyone.

Before batons came into common use in the early 19th century, musicians just used their hands or a rolled-up piece of music paper to keep time.

Unfortunately for him, Italian-born French Baroque composer Jean-Baptiste Lully chose to employ a long, heavy staff when he was conducting. He was thumping out the beat during a performance of his own Te Deum on today’s date in 1687, and, like Solti, must have gotten carried away and accidentally smashed the staff into his toe. He continued conducting, but an abscess soon developed in the self-inflicted wound, followed by gangrene which spread through his lower leg and Lully died a few weeks later.

Music Played in Today's Program

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687): Galliarde from Trios pour le Coucher du Roi; Chicago Baroque Ensemble; Cedille 043