T.O., there's a case.  As a 48-year lifer in Toronto, I have the distinct
impression that the Big Money in Toronto, and there's lots of it, is not
interested in our orchestra, the "Toronto Symphony" (you may have heard of
it) or any orchestra.  Their chief recreational investment pursuits are
hockey, football, and basketball.  One has only to sit on the Governing
Council of our chief university, the "University of Toronto," to quickly
realize that even in these hallowed halls the philistines rule.  So I'm
not sure we'll ever be in the position to attract a first rate conductor.
No money.  No political will.  No class.

Things seem a little better south of the border where, to cite from a
memorable Mr. Bean picture, the big money may not know a "Picasso from a
car crash," but it apparently won't abide the idea of anything American,
its big orchestras in this instance, taking a back seat to the Europeans.
But these days even this cynical assessment may be too optimistic.

John L. Grant
http://stations.mp3s.com/stations/244/bach_welltempered_clavier_bk_1.html