James Tobin opines:

>This is an odious business, but for both points in time I would substitute
>the Cleveland Orchestra for the Los Angeles Orchestra (and I just know
>Steve Schwartz would!) I would put the NY Philharmonic lower.  Certainly
>for the earlier period I would put Boston ahead of the London orchestras.
>For today I would be inclined to add the Kirov to the list.

As I said in another post, I cannot concur with the Cleveland for the
reasons stated.  On the other hand, I now think the LAPO would not make
my top ten.  Further reflection and listening reveals that the NYPO was
not a top tener.  I listened to a recording of the Kirov, under Gergiev,
of Stravinsky's "Rite" and Scriabin's "Poem of Ecstasy" that blew me away.
As damn fine as the "Rite" is, the Scriabin is even better.  Maybe an
orchestra is as good as their conductor?

Peace from he who is stumpf
aka Sisyphus