"John G. Deacon" writes that most averse criticism of Muti's work comes from America and then adds: >I would venture to suggest that these views are not supported either >by musical evidence nor by the musically informed public in Europe. My experience jibes with John Deacon's. Muti's reputation is generally good here in Germany and in Italy. I've attended not just one opera performance conducted by him at the Scala--because I always found myself wanting to come back for more. The Scala orchestra doing symphonic works is something else again; it's simply not like Vienna's Opernorchester which excels at both genres. But that's scarcely Muti's fault. Rather, it's organic,antecedes Muti and likely will endure after him. Opera is what the broader Milanese public is interested in. Some of the best non-operatic music in Milan is played in the auditorium of the conservatory, at least so I have found. Denis Fodor Internet:[log in to unmask]