Conducting Anxiety Reality No. 2

[spectreofarose]

So, I just saw an incredible program at NY Phil. Haydn, Berio, and Beethoven. Alan Gilbert conducted, whom I haven't seen since he did some Debussy with the orchestra last spring. This time, however, I was sitting much closer, and actually paid attention. He's very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very good. I had never met him, though, so my dad took me backstage after the show and introduced me (apparently they're good friends). The first thing he said was "...so I hear you're doing Barber of Seville?" JESUS CHRIST, HE KNOWS I'M CONDUCTING??? Also said he wanted to talk music, which would be AWESOME. AND (I felt awkward when he said this) he said "...I have no idea why you want to do this..." and I responded with the first thing off the top of my head: "...well, it looks like you're having fun..." and he smiled and said that yes, he was. I kept trying to be slightly eloquent and clever, but it just doesn't work when some incredibly good, famous, lucky conductor acknowledges the fact that you're learning the trade.
AAAAAAAAAHHHHH OH MY F*CKING GOD. This conductorial thing is actually really happening, isn't it?