Gramophone Magazine issues a Top 20 Orchestras of the World ranking for 2008

[AL PERCIVAL]

Gramophone Magazine issues a Top 20 Orchestras of the World ranking every year was just released for 2008 today.

Shawn Lafrenz Pearl's director of Educational and Concert percussion thought you might like to know where Pearl and Adams gear and Artists fall on today’s top 20 list:


Gramophone Magazine – Annual ranking of the Top 20 Orchestras in the World

Released 11/21/08

1 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - Nick Woud - Adams Schnellar Timpani
Marinus Komst – Adams Philharmonic Light Timpani

2 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

3 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

4 London Symphony Orchestra

5 Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Cynthia Yeh – Principle Percussion

6 Bavarian Radio Symphony

7 Cleveland Orchestra - Tom Freer – Percussion / Asst Timpani

8 Los Angeles Philharmonic - Joseph Pereira – Adams Philharmonic Light Timpani

9 Budapest Festival Orchestra - Adams Timpani and Mallet Instruments

10 Dresden Staatskapelle

11 Boston Symphony Orchestra - Will Hudgins – Percussion

12 New York Philharmonic - Daniel Druckman – percussion

13 San Francisco Symphony - Pearl Philharmonic Snare Drums

14 Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra

15 Russian National Orchestra

16 Leningrad Philharmonic

17 Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

18 Metropolitan Opera Orchestra - Michael Werner - Percussion

19 Saito Kinen Symphony Orchestra

20 Czech Philharmonic - Adams Timpani and Mallet Instruments

[David Hollywood]

Thanks for posting that Al! I try to catch the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at least once a year. Good stuff! :)

[David Hollywood]

Here's an NPR story about the list:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97291390

[Shawn Lafrenz]

Of course - this kind of list will always bring "another opinion" The Gramophone list is a bit contrived as it is run by people involved with the recording industry and perhaps not so completely un-biased.
This kind of list will always bring "another opinion". As an example, a friend of mine offered his own altered list as follows:

1 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
2 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
3 Cleveland Orchestra
4 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
5 Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
6 Philadelphia Orchestra
7 Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
8 Boston Symphony Orchestra
9 Czech Philharmonic
10 Chicago Symphony Orchestra
11 New York Philharmonic
12 Dresden Staatskapelle
13 Bavarian Radio Symphony
14 Los Angeles Philharmonic
15 San Francisco Symphony
16 Budapest Festival Orchestra
17 London Symphony
18 Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra
19 Russian National Orchestra
20 Leningrad Philharmonic
21 Saito Kinen Symphony Orchestra

Both good lists no question! I think the great thing about it is that it is possible if you are near New York, San Fran, Chicago, Philly, Cleveland etc - it is possible to hear LIVE some of the greatest players and music on the planet. These are the orchestras to look for on the the CD labels, and these are the players to listen closely to.

[DrummerEH]

Both good lists no question! I think the great thing about it is that it is possible if you are near New York, San Fran, Chicago, Philly, Cleveland etc - it is possible to hear LIVE some of the greatest players and music on the planet. These are the orchestras to look for on the the CD labels, and these are the players to listen closely to.
Yes! I think we could debate for years about who the best orchestras are and while we may disagree on rankings we can never deny how inspired we are by hearing fantastic orchestras and who most of those orchestras are. I can not tell you how lucky I am to live and go to school within 4 hrs of Chicago and have the opportunity of seeing the CSO every once in a while. I can not deny how inspired I am every time I see them. BTW I was also inspired every time I saw the QCSO ;) .

[Shawn Lafrenz]

Thanks! - after 20+ years in that group, It's nice to hear that!

Your larger point is well taken:
If you are a high school (or younger) aged player especially, one of the greatest things you can do to advance your skill and understanding of the music you are playing is to go and hear it LIVE - no matter what group is playing. There is great music happening all around you, and you can learn something from hearing any player, any conductors interpretation,any repertoire, any hall, any time (sometimes how not to do it! ;)) . You will learn who the players are in your area and that can be a great way to begin your own chapter of music making in your community.

Always be objective when listening, not immediately critical or skeptical - and you will find yourself in a better position to achieve something in your own playing.