BlogBack: Alex Ross on the NY Philharmonic's Next Music Director

Alex Ross, music critic of The New Yorker (who has his own lively blog), responds to my pick of Riccardo Muti as next music director of the NY Philharmonic:

I strongly disagree! Muti is yet another virtuoso conductor who would fly in for 12 weeks, conduct 12 reasonably brilliant concerts, and fly away, making no visible mark on the wider musical life of the city, advancing no substantial ideas about new music, and furnishing no direction for the orchestra as a cultural organism. The Philadelphia Orchestra experienced this same regimen with Muti some years ago. Essentially the NY Phil has the same deal currently with Maazel, though Muti is certainly a warmer musician.

I would nominate Robert Spano.

Let the nominations continue. After all, how many Democrats are vying for the Presidential nod?

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to scratch my posts and smooth my ruffled fur with the other herded cats. Alex, will I see you tonight at the Bloggers Summit?