Nick Perovich wrote:

>So I ask, is Rattle's superiority to Barenboim really without question.

Not at all.  Both conductors are among the most well known and popular
active directors today.  I'm sure there are many classical music fans who
would claim one or the other as the best around.

Rattle's selection over Barenboim as the music director of the Berlin
Philharmonic is not evidence that he is the better symphonic conductor.
But, I suppose those who favor Rattle might use the selection to buttress
that view.

One significant difference between the two conductors is that Barenboim
prefers the more traditional/mainstream repertoire whereas Rattle is more
adventurous.  Hugh Canning's preference for Rattle is only his opinion and
shouldn't be taken as a consensus view.

Don Satz
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