The artistic profile of one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, whose perfectionist demands increasingly made him reclusive. When conductor Carlos Kleiber (1930-2004) passed away, the media's reaction highlighted one thing above all: how difficult it seemed to adequately engage with an artist who had largely withdrawn from the demands of the cultural industry. Carlos Kleiber, the only case in recent music history where the son of a world-famous conductor (Erich Kleiber) also achieved global fame, must be regarded as a unique figure among the maestros of the recent past. The perfect translation of musical ideas into body language and gestures was one side of the Kleiber phenomenon. On the other hand, the demand for perfection also led to increasing psychophysical tension, resulting in his near-total withdrawal.