New York Philharmonic picks a maestro

No doubt you've seen the news that the New York Phil has selected its next music director. Alan Gilbert, 40, will succeed Lorin Maazel, beginning with the 2009-10 season. At which time, I think, Mr. Maazel will be 79 years old...

Here's a photo from Gilbert's guest-conducting gig in Cincinnati back in 1996, when he impressed with Shostakovich's 10th. At the time, though, I recall that the musicians were less than impressed, perhaps due to his tender age.

I'm sort of impressed at the list of maestros they DIDN'T pick. There's some awfully good work being done by James Conlon (a native New Yorker), David Robertson, the Jarvi clan, Robert Spano...