Creative genius, in two parts

by Greg Fuson on February 20th, 2009


Of all the amazing pieces of this year’s TED conference, the two below were perhaps the most stirring and memorable for me.

The first muses on the source of creative genius. The second demonstrates it.

Here, Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) reflects on the elusive and sometimes maddening nature of creativity, and she questions our modern notion of the rare, lone genius. Instead, she embraces the ancient Greek and Roman belief that creative genius flows through us—as opposed to emanating from us—a perspective I find simultaneously humbling and freeing. 

 

Next, Gustavo Dudamel—incoming director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic—leads a spectacular performance by Venezuela’s Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra. The orchestra, like Dudamel himself, is the product of El Sistema, a remarkable program that transforms young children from the country’s most impoverished, crime-ridden slums by training them to become world-class musicians.

I’m not sure which is more inspiring, their talent or their exuberance.

When you listen, be sure to use good speakers or headphones. 

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  1. Chris Grant
    February 28th, 2009
    10:45 am

    Last week, in London I went to hear Mahler’s 5th Symphony, conducted by Maestro Dudamel.

    It was stunning on so many levels, but the observation that I want to share here is the fact that he was conducting not one of the amazing groups which have sprung out of El Sistema in Venezuela, but the Philharmonia: one of London’s venerable orchestras. I know them well, having heard them maybe 20 times over the last 3 or 4 years … but I’ve never heard them play like this.

    For me, apart from being a wonderful experience in itself, it was a lesson in the power of great leadership to invite people to bring their best energy to the task.

    At the end of the Symphony, these seasoned European musicians were spent, but also glowing and – seemingly – as amazed as the audience at what had been unleashed through their playing.

    Thank you for bringing this source of inspiration to a new audience: how about getting them to San Francisco in June? :-)

    Thanks for putting this up ..


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