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I know everyone on TubeNet won't agree; but it is generally accepted that the top five orchestras in the United States are:

• Boston
  Chicago
  Cleveland
  New York
  Philadelphia

Let's assume that this is true and not argue about these five orchestras.

Here's is the question. What orchestras would you rank in the next five?

I will submit the first, Los Angeles.

Three way tie, for me, between Atlanta, LA, and Cincinnati.

San Francisco
St. Louis
Baltimore
National
Would the Met count?

Mark wrote:

• Boston
  Chicago
  Cleveland
  New York
  Philadelphia

San Francisco
St. Louis
Atlanta
Los Angeles
Metropolitan Opera

bloke wrote:Are we discussing largest budget, largest pay, best sounding, best possible standard of living given the salary, or some sort of combination?

I'm talking about those orchestras that consistently produce the excellent performances.

San Francisco Symphony
L.A. Phil
Met Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony

San Francisco is my favorite of this group. I've heard all of these orchestras in addition to the "big five" during the past 6 years and I would put San Francisco at the top (even over the "big five"). also, the night I heard Minnesota they were as good as any of the big five.

Minnesota Orchestra. I have heard them many a time, and they consistently sound excellent. I would put them top 5. (btw,Mr Campbell is really, really good)

St. Louis, (might be my favorite orchestra in the US)
Dallas
Louisville, (one of my favorites)
Utah
While not an orchestra, per se, I'm a big fan of the Orchestra of St. Luke's

snorlax wrote:Given the sheer numbers of music majors churned out by conservatories, is there actually a BAD professional orchestra in any major or semi-major city??
I can't imagine there is a really BAD orchestra anywhere when 40-50 people audition for a seat in a half-season, per-service professional orchestra.

Most don't know, but the North Carolina Symphony can play!!!

tubafatness wrote:St. Louis, (might be my favorite orchestra in the US)

Some of their older recordings under the baton of Leonard Slatkin (not to take anything from their currently incredible sounds) are absolutely amazing.

I haven't heard any recently aside from Pittsburgh, St Louis, and Kansas City. St Louis has consistently been up there in my book, but I'm a bit biased.
If you can find St Louis' Prokofiev 5 from about the mid-80s, it's a must have.

Slight correction--I heard the National on TV last week...it's hard to say much from that, but it seems they're still cookin' along too.

How about a list of some full-time orchestras? It's been a while since I have seen an accurate list. When I lived in Fort Worth, I know the Fort Worth Symphony was then a part-time organization--but that has changed. Are there any orchestras that used to be full-time that are now part-time?

LoyalTubist wrote: Are there any orchestras that used to be full-time that are now part-time?

This is (to me) a very interesting question.

I cannot think of any off hand, but intend to research this a bit.

It seems that in recent years orchestras have gone from fine to struggling to flat broke in short order. All of the "major" orchestras appear to still be hanging on, but many of them have been operating for years with huge budget deficits.

Many orchestras out there have cut their seasons down and have asked for their members to take pay or benefit cuts before they resort to going bankrupt.

Some of the smaller/regional/per-service orchestras have not been able to continue operations normally and have merged with other smaller orchestras in the area (this opens a whole new can of worms) or shut down completely, but there are none that I know of that have simply transitioned from full time to part time.

TonyTuba wrote:Most don't know, but the North Carolina Symphony can play!!!

Maestro Zimmerman also does a FANTASTIC job with the Canton Symphony. After Cleveland and Cincinnati, I think many would say it's the best in Ohio. And it's not a full time group.

Given the top five, and not necessarily in this order:

San Francisco
L.A.
Milwaukee
Minnesota
Houston

Utah
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
L.A.
San Francisco
Minnesota
etc...

snorlax wrote:Given the sheer numbers of music majors churned out by conservatories, is there actually a BAD professional orchestra in any major or semi-major city??
I can't imagine there is a really BAD orchestra anywhere when 40-50 people audition for a seat in a half-season, per-service professional orchestra.

There was a nice column by Alex Ross in the June 25 New Yorker entitled "On The Road", 3 orchestras, 3 cities, 2 days, re: Indianapolis, Nashville, and Alabama Symphonies. Sort of along the same lines as this thread. It can be accessed on Newyorker.com.

I'm surprised no one mentioned The Detroit Symphony. At one time the DSO was considered "Top Ten".

Bowerybum wrote:I'm surprised no one mentioned The Detroit Symphony. At one time the DSO was considered "Top Ten".

I haven't seen anything lately, but I remember that Detroit was tottering on the financial brink a while back. Anyone know their current status?

Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Los Angeles
National
Cleveland