In an interview with The Times, Kennedy attacked the practice by which many conductors spend only a few weeks with an orchestra, saying: “How many will develop an orchestra rather than feeding off its achievements? They’re straight off for the dollar. Round the corner to get a better job. All they’re interested in is strutting about, wielding a bit of power.

“A conductor can galvanise the troops and evolve an artistic programme and identity of style. If they only give five or ten weeks a year [to an orchestra], how can they do that?”

He declined to name any particular conductor, but added: “It’s difficult to think of an exception.”

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