"I can't do pieces I only admire technically. I have to feel some direct contact with them"

In this quote, prominent conductor and author Michael Tilson Thomas expresses the profound connection he needs with the music he chooses to carry out. He states, "I can't do pieces I just admire technically. I have to feel some direct contact with them". This recommends that for Tilson Thomas, music must transcend technical expertise to resonate on a more extensive and individual level.

Appreciation for technical aspects of a musical piece-- its structure, intricacy, or the skill it requires-- is essential, particularly for a conductor who needs to browse these intricacies. Yet, Tilson Thomas shows that technical affection alone is insufficient. His usage of "just" symbolizes a limitation when psychological depth or personal connection is absent. Music, in his view, is not solely an intellectual exercise; it is an emotional and spiritual journey that needs a binding connection between the work and the performer.

The expression "feel some direct contact" highlights the need for an intimate relationship with the music. This contact goes beyond auditory perception, in which music evokes feelings, memories, or reflections that are personally substantial. In requiring this "direct contact", Tilson Thomas raises the concept of musical performance from mere interpretation to one of individual expression. It indicates that the performer needs to be more than a conduit; they require to embody the piece, echoing a shared human experience or feeling that meets the audience on a deeper level.

Ultimately, this perspective highlights the difference between a technically proficient performance and one that is genuinely memorable. For Tilson Thomas, the latter is achieved only through pieces that move beyond the intellect and touch the soul. This suggests a viewpoint where music is both an art and a kind of communication that need to be genuine to be genuinely impactful.