I have photographed musical conductors in my past but never one who was not only a female but was also somewhere in the neighbourhood of 6 ft. For many of my photographs of Kathleen Allan I had to stand on a stool in order for my camera to be at her eyelevel.

Most of the musical conductors that have faced my camera have not been all that young and none had a complexion as smooth as Allan’s. 

When I asked her to be serious and with her imposing presence (helped by the fact that she was dressed in black all the way to her shoes) I told her that she may have chosen the wrong profession. I think that she would have excelled as headmistress in an exclusive school for girls. They would all behave not wanting to face her in the office.

On the other hand it seems that with the many hats Allan wears she has to deal with children. This is why I asked her to wear her baton in her hair and to give me a serious and then a smiling look. I am sure that children would feel comfortable with her.

Taking her photographs, after having watched her direct a French program at Early Music Vancouver, while her almost-as-handsome-cohort LeslieDala dealt with Gabriel Fauré, was a treat. I wrote about that concert here.

Toronto may be lucky to have Allan in their city but it is nice to point out that Matthew White, Artistic and Executive Director of EarlyMusic Vancouver, brought Allan to her former home for this year’s EMV BachFestival. We hope that White will continue with this splendid joint undertaking.