The Big Five

Recently, a reader asked me for my "ranking" of the Cincinnati Symphony among other symphony orchestras. Given that the orchestra is playing extremely well, its recordings are acclaimed and its tours are so well-received, I would definitely place it in the top ten these days. (That's in a field of about 22 big-budget American orchestras.)

But a few days ago, the New York Sun (a tabloid) came out with a new "Big Five," and has bumped several old-timers off the list in favor of -- you guessed it -- Paavo Jarvi and the CSO.

For what it's worth, neither I nor any of my other colleagues in the Music Critics Association of North America know who critic Fred Kirshnit is. He does, however, make an entertaining case for his list -- which is undoubtedly flying through the e-mails of arts professionals even as we speak.

Out: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic
In: The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Cincinnati Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic
"On the bubble": The Chicago Symphony
"Hanging on": The Boston Symphony

Of course, ranking is a subjective exercise, and many things go into play. Being a native Northern Californian, I would wonder why he put LA in, and left San Francisco out, for instance. I also wonder why he ranked the Cincinnati so highly, when it hasn't appeared in New York since Jan. 2005 (remember the blizzard that dumped 14 inches of snow on the Big Apple?).

Take a look and let me know what you think. (And DO look at the readers comments at the bottom -- they are a riot.)

Should the CSO be in the Top Five? The Top Ten?