Submitted by Ian Shields, Mar 1, 2007 04:35

This classical musician would love to know at what point (and in what roomful of close friends) did this writer decide that Michael Tilson Thomas has a "signature" of loudness? Further, how did he manage to miss the prevailing attitude among his peers that, far from being too loud, the SF orchestra has had under MTT among the most "light" or "French" of timbres, especially compared to the more oomphy American ensembles in places like Chicago, New York, etc. In fact, this impression of "lightness" has even delayed critics in acknowleging the work that SF has done in developing one of the finest brass sections in the world, equally adept at a roar as at a hushed whisper, for which MTT is actually best known. But too loud? You must be kidding. Perhaps the writer is suffering from a bout of tinnitus -- and for this I highly recommend some time away from the job, and wish him godspeed in recovery.

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