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Top 10 Orchestras

49K views 152 replies 78 participants last post by  perempe 
#1 ·
These are my top 10 Orchestras:
Berlin Phil
Boston Symphony
Chicago Symphony
Cleveland Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam
London Symphony
Orchestre de Paris
Staatskapelle Dresden
Bavarian Radio Symphony
Vienna Philharmonic

I was wondering what else you guys think? What metric do you use to pick your Top 10?

Discuss amongst everyone
 
#35 ·
Now that I actually have ten favorite orchestras (in no particular order):

Vienna Philharmonic
Berlin Philharmonic
Chicago Symphony
Israel Philharmonic
London Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
Cincinnati Symphony
Lahti Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
Boston Symphony

And a random fact I just realized: this is one of the very few posts I make that does not use an ellipsis!
 
#36 ·
In my limited experience - and also in no particular order (unless noted):

1. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
1. Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
2. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
2. Academy of St. Martin's in the Field
2. London Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony orchestra
New York Philharmonic
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Royal Philharmonica Orchestra

As I look over this list, I find it humorous in this fashion... A conversation about the differences in European and American orchestra's is what at first piqued my interest to start exploring classical music, and I do tend to like the European greats more so than American (though I do not fault American at all and do have some as my top 10 - easily, like NYP, CSO), especially VPO and BPO at this time. Of course just a couple months ago I had never heard most if not all of these orchestra's - so who can tell what I will like or be on my opinion in say a year from now.
 
#40 ·
Just off the top of my head,

Philharmonia Orchestra under Esa-Peka Salonen
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Marriner
Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan especially
Vienna Philharmonic under anyone
Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Georg Solti
 
#41 ·
1. Berliner Philharmoniker (the best, as always)
2. London symphony
3. NY Philharmonic
4. Wiener (vienna) philharmoniker
5. Toronto Philharmonic (Canadians ARE good musicians)
6. San francisco philharmonic (just because i live there, and i'm proud of my area)
 
#42 ·
Now in some semblance of an order...

Vienna Philharmonic
Berlin Philharmonic
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
New York Philharmonic
Chicago Symphony
Lahti Symphony
Philharmonia Orchestra
Israel Philharmonic
Cincinnati Symphony
Orchestre de Paris
 
#43 ·
I would say the most consistent orchestra, with different conductors, over the recording era would be the VPO.
Second would be the BPO (especially under Karajan).
Third place goes to Amsterdam Concergtbouw (Probably spelt that wrong -:D )
The rest of the places could go to Chicago, Philharmonia, LSO, LPO, New York Phil. Philadelphia, Clevelend. (in no particular order )
 
#44 ·
Recordings versus live performances are totally different animals and I prefer live performances. I have heard excellent playing in live performances by The Chicago Symphony playing the best of any orchestra under Solti. The Los Angeles Philharmonic plays vey well under Esa Pekka Salonen. The Royal Concertgebouw was better with Ricardo Chailly than with Mariss Jansons. The Houston Symphony was excellent with Eschenbach. I did not think as highly of the Philharmonia with Dohyani. Their Mahler 1st was just so-so but The Debussy was great. I heard them all in live performance and to quote PDQ Bach "If it sounds good, it is good".
 
#45 ·
I do find that to judge a particular orchestra can be subject to various factors such as quality of recording, acoustics of the venue used, unsympathetic conducting and has the horn section, for example got out of the wrong side of the bed that particular morning to make all those mistakes.
I have heard orchestras such as BBC symphony orchestra, City of Birmingham SO, Halle, Bournmouth SO and others give some tremendous performances (I live in UK - :rolleyes: ). And there are very average recordings by the BPO or VPO around due to those factors I've already mentioned. So It's very difficult to judge what is a top rate orchestra.
I'm just so very pleased that we have soooo many brilliant ensemble around... :)
 
#46 ·
After being a little negative toward young people and classical music in a previous thread, one mustn't forget the phenominal amount of young talent, that's saround at the moment. Thinking on orchestras like, Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, European Community Youth Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and many others. And praising the conductors that have founded them as well. We hope that this wonderful music lives on through these special people...;) ;) :)
 
#49 ·
1. The BBC symphony Orchestra (I attended a concert - the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard)
2. Staatskapelle Dresden
3. London Symphony Orchestra
4. Berlin Philharmonic
5. Russian National Orchestra
6. Concertgebouw Orchestra
7. Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
8. Budapest Festival Orchestra
9. Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
10. Iceland Symphony Orchestra
 
#53 ·
Here are mine (in no particular order):

1. Royal Concertgebouw
2. Berlin Philharmonic
3. Vienna Philharmonic
4. London Philharmonic
5. London Symphony
6. Chicago Symphony
7. New York Philharmonic
8. Czech Philharmonic
9. St. Petersburg Philharmonic
10. Cologne Radio Symphony
 
#61 ·
I have no particular order, some of my favorites include Vienna, Berlin, LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC, Philharmonia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

I'm just wondering...why is it only one person has mentioned LA Philharmonic? Do you guys really believe that Pittsburgh Symphony, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra are better than them? Because I mean, I don't wanna say "your opinions are 'wrong'" but like...that's kinda dismissing all the work Esa-Pekka Salonen did to make them REALLY good! Nobody seems to listen to the LA Philharmonic! :( May I make a suggestion and go on iTunes and look Stravinsky's Firebird (1910 version) conducted by Salonen and the LA Phil, just to introduce some of you to what LA Philharmonic can do live. :)
 
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