Helmuth Rilling-Man or Myth?

Jason Remschel

This past year I had the honor of working with one of the foremost authorities in the arts of conducting, Bach music, and rare cuban cigars. This man's name is maestro Helmuth Rilling..

The first time I saw him was when he walked into one of our last YCA rehearsals. Everyone in the room fell deathly silent. I felt as if we should've had a red carpet or at least some theme music to accompany his entrance. He made a couple of notes on the music we were working on, discussed some bars with our conductors Anton Armstrong and Maria Guinand, and off we went. "Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf" had never sounded so good. I wondered whether or not it was because we were so nervous and had our adrenaline pumping, or if it was his intense nature that had captivated us. His manner of conducting is so subtle yet energetic at the same time. No runs or parts go unnoticed. When one section of the choir made a mistake you could tell right away by his tell-tale glance, looking at you from directly above his glasses. The rehearsal concluded an hour early when he was satisfied with our performance of the piece and sent us back to our "home away from home" dorms at Barnhart Hall. Afterwards I was able to give him my regards with a handshake and a nod as he enjoyed a cigar with his cohorts. I think it would suffice to say, it was a day to remember and we can't wait until he comes "Bach" in late October.