Robertson, a distinguished conductor of Boulez's Ensemble InterContemporain, is largely associated with modern music, although I have read several excellent reviews of operas he has conducted as well as (IIRC) a stellar critique of a concert of Brahms and Schoenberg. On a personal level, he led a magnificent concert this summer at Tanglewood, including Claude Vivier's magnificent 'Siddhartha', and there was a universal appeal throughout the orchestra--nobody has ever conducted more clearly and made more sense, emotionally and technically, out of such a complex and quirky score. I also got a chance to talk with him for a little while and he seemed very personable. Philly would be lucky to have him--what a great complement to Spano, were he to get Boston. Cheers, Marcus Maroney [log in to unmask] http://www.geocities.com/marcus.maroney