I seem to be mostly outside the mainstream of the sift, so I submit a lot of things that get few or even no votes, and others that languish until someone notices them and then they become kinda popular.

This is one of the ones that meant a lot to me and not to others: http://www.videosift.com/video/Somebodys-Mom (my guess is that most sifters haven't been through infertility anxiety).

For the sifted, this one made me soar: http://www.videosift.com/video/Music-as-a-Roller-Coaster-Zurich-Chamber-Orchestra .

Nice idea, AC. I've enjoyed looking at the other submissions--only some of which I had noted before.

*dupe of http://www.videosift.com/video/Music-as-a-Roller-Coaster-Zurich-Chamber-Orchestra

http://www.videosift.com/video/Music-as-a-Roller-Coaster-Zurich-Chamber-Orchestra

HeyOxdottir,
you're welcome to bring your sifts to my attention:), this one must've slipped through my radar..many of your sifts were well-received by me and upvoted, plus archive upvoting still on-going..good work!
Eklek

In reply to this comment by oxdottir:
Eklek, you are the only person I am asking this, but it seems you would like this video: http://www.videosift.com/video/Music-as-a-Roller-Coaster-Zurich-Chamber-Orchestra

Fine if you don't, and I know I could have your taste wrong since I am just basing it on others of my videos you have voted on. Anyway, hope you don't mind my pointing it out.

Eklek, you are the only person I am asking this, but it seems you would like this video: http://www.videosift.com/video/Music-as-a-Roller-Coaster-Zurich-Chamber-Orchestra

Fine if you don't, and I know I could have your taste wrong since I am just basing it on others of my videos you have voted on. Anyway, hope you don't mind my pointing it out.

Conductors are a relatively modern creation. Up until Beethoven or so, orchestras did not have a conductor. They were lead by the first chair violin, referred to as the concertmaster or leader.

Many ensembles that follow historically-informed performance practice (e.g. Concerto Köln, Akademie für Alte Musik, and the Academy of Ancient Music) generally do not play under a conductor until they get into Haydn or Beethoven or Mozart. There are some HIP ensembles, however, that always have a conductor, like the King's Consort.

There are also some modern chamber orchestras that do not play with a conductor. The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra has never had a conductor, for example.

BTW, Karajan almost always conducted with his eyes closed. He wasn't especially skilled or showing off, it's just one of his many peculiarities.