Tom Connor wrote:

>The sound of Kousevitsky's BSO was distinctive.  However, I recall reading
>a comment many years ago that K and others (Stokowsky included) could
>visit other orchestras and quickly get 'their' sound.  (Personally, I
>wasn't around them so I can't vouch for the comment.)

I did some restoration work on a parts of a broadcast from the 1940s
when Koussevitzky conducted the New York Philharmonic.  While the didn't
sound like the BSO, they certainly responded well to his interpretations.
There were a few gaps in the performances (side changes) which I filled
with Koussevitzky conducting the BSO.  They seemed to fit in just fine.

>I wonder if the chase for the biggest star on the market gets in the way
>of an orchestra's sound.  When Kousevitsky began in Boston and Stokowsky
>in Philadelphia I doubt many subscribers know what the Vienna Philharmonic
>or Amersterdam Concergetbau sounded like.  Today, I fear Boards are quite
>a bit more risk averse.  So, orchestras, soloists, etc sound alike.

I suppose with repertoire selections being subject to bean counting...why
not sound quality.

Karl