Waiting for Gilbert

Terry Teachout's assessment of Alan Gilbert is spot-on. My friends in classical-music circles are scratching their heads over the appointment. These are people who pay close attention to the music world, and while they don't dislike Gilbert, they also have to admit that they cannot point to a performance or body of work or recording that was particularly memorable or worthy of celebration.

I have never heard a Gilbert performance, so I cannot speak about him one way or another. Still, I don't think the Philharmonic has ever raised to such an august position someone with such slender accomplishments. Let's hope they are guessing right.

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