Sejii Ozawa is finally leaving the BSO after 25 years of thoroughly
mediocre conducting.  Having grown up in Cleveland during the years of
George Szell--for me the greatest musician of the century--the last 25
years of musical life here in the Boston area have been quite depressing
indeed, allieviated only by great guest conductors such as Sir Colin Davis
and Klaus Tennstedt.

It is also pleasing to hear that the Berlin voted for Rattle.  Insofar as
Rattle is accomplished at all, it is in 20th century music.  Getting Rattle
would just be a rehash of Ozawa.

Many, including Richard Dyer, are impressed by Rober Spano.  He puts me to
sleep.

Haitink, Muti, Abbado, and (gasp) Previn are all too old.

I would prefer James Levine, the best American-born conductor of the
century, but only if he left the Met, something I would not wish, for he
is one great opera conductor.

My second choice is Christoph Eschenbach, though he might be considered
too much the Prussian drillmaster, similar to Sallawisch, Masur, and
Blomdstedt.  But he subsituted for Levine a few years ago and conducted the
Erocia, as Levine was scheduled to do.  His Eroica was well-structured in
ways Ozawa would not dream of; his conducting reminded me of Szell.  He
would be the best of the realistic choices.

My longshot is Jeffrey Tate, who knows his way around the Mozart- Beethoven
repetoire in ways that few others do.  But he has a physical handicap and
thus lacks the charisma of Barenboim, Ozawa, Muti, and other musical
mediocrities.

If I had my way, I would audition four or five finalists and ask them all
to conduct a Haydn symphony.  Much of my decision would be based on how
well they conducted that.  If they can't conduct a Haydn symphony, then
they shouldn't be offered the BSO position.  Of course that would rule out
a great many charismatic hotshots.

Allan Kohrman
Newton, MA