Comparing Rattle and Barenboim repertoire-wise, I would have to say that
Rattle wins hands down.  The only area that Barenboim is even near equal
is French music, but even there, Rattle scores big-time with much more
convincing Ravel.  Rattle also conducts Bernstein with his British
orchestra, while Barenboim programs neither that nor Copland with his
*American* orchestra--which even Kurt Masur does in New York.  I also have
yet to hear or see any Shostakovich programmed by Barenboim, little or no
Stravinsky, no Haydn, no Bach....I could go on.....Rattle just seems to
have more original, interesting, and varied programming ideas--of which the
majority receive magnificent response, whereas many Barenboim performances
seem extremely lackluster.  Just my opinion.

Marcus Maroney
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