Greatest living conductor?

[Todd]

Wish he'd conduct some Sibelius though. That might be very interesting.

A Boulez-led Tapiola would be something I'd snap up.  At least he has a Szymanowski disc coming out later this year to mix things up a bit.

[karlhenning]

What do we want? Boulez added to the poll!  When do we want it? NOW!

[Sergeant Rock]

Boulez has conducted works from the era...

Thanks for the info, Todd. I couldn't imagine he hadn't conducted at least a few classical era works at some point in his very long career. I just hadn't heard them, or heard of them. Any Beethoven sightings?

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

A Boulez-led Tapiola would be something I'd snap up.

Yes, and the Fourth.

Sarge

[Todd]

Any Beethoven sightings?

The Emperor with Clifford Curzon on BBC Legends.  Curzon is so-so, Boulez better than that.  There's a Ninth on YouTube, and what may be the same performance on file sharing sites.  I believe there are other recordings out there, I just haven't pursued them too diligently.  (I've read about a Fifth as well.)

[Franco]

I don't think it's ever been issued on CD but back in the '70s Columbia released an LP of Boulez conducting the Beethoven 5th.

[DavidRoss]

Among those offered, I voted Abbado, though it was nearly a toss-up with Harnoncourt.  Most of those listed don't even qualify for the challenge, IMO, as they either haven't yet the length of career, breadth of repertoire, consistent top notch results from a variety of orchestras, and success as orchestra builders that, for me, would be necessary qualifications for "greatness." 

If Ozawa, Colin Davis, Neeme Järvi, and certain others are on the list, then damn near everyone enjoying a successful, long career as a baton-twiddler ought be there as well--Marriner, Muti (whoops, he's on the list), Maazel (a better candidate than many), Levine, and so on.  And though several of my favorites aren't on the list, chances are good that Abbado would still be my choice against all comers.  With La Scala, the LSO, the CSO, the Vienna Opera, the BP, the WP and Vienna Opera, the COE, and his young Orchestra Mozart, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, and the Lucerne Festival Orchestral, he has gifted the world with an extraordinary body of work in a career distinguishing him as not only the "greatest living conductor," but arguably the greatest conductor of the 20th Century.  YMMV.

A revised list:

    * Claudio Abbado
    * Bernard Haitink
    * Pierre Boulez
    * Ricardo Chailly
    * Daniel Barenboim
    * John Elliot Gardiner
    * Nikolaus Harnoncourt
    * Herbert Blomstedt

(Barenboim is a tough one for me to put there, as I'm not a fan, but many whom I respect are, so he stays.  For the same reason, Gardiner is added--but I do like and admire him.  And if these two belong, then I think Blomstedt certainly ought qualify, too.  As for Chailly and Boulez, the failure to include them in the OP must surely have been an oversight...?  (No doubt I've also left out one or two who ought be on the list.  :^ )  )


Many I admire greatly are yet a bit young with substantial careers ahead of them to qualify yet, such as MTT, Gergiev, Ivan Fischer, Osmo Vänskä, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Paavo Järvi, or they may fall short in breadth of repertoire or genre, like Segerstam or Berglund or René Jacobs.

Among the recently departed, I would add Sinopoli along with Mackerras.  By the way, I was surprised to learn that Sawallisch is still alive.  How can they tell?

[Brian]

If you had started this poll 8 days ago, Sir Charles Mackerras would have been my no-doubt choice.

[Todd]

Many I admire greatly are yet a bit young with substantial careers ahead of them to qualify yet, such as MTT

Michael Tilson Thomas is 65.  I don't know if I'd say that's a bit young.  He's over a decade older than Sinopoli was when he died, for instance.  Whether or not he should be counted among the greatest alive is another question.  (I think he should.)

[Sergeant Rock]

If...Colin Davis...and certain others are on the list, then damn near everyone enjoying a successful, long career as a baton-twiddler ought be there as well

That makes absolutely no sense to me, David. Davis's breadth of repertoire (the classical era through the 20th century), his skill at interpretation, his sensitivity as an accompanist in concertos (not only can you hear that, but you can see it when he conducts), his ability to conduct not only orchestral works but opera, are as fine as any conductor living today. He's headed the Boston, LSO, Dresden...in other words, some of the very best orchestras. His Mozart opera, his big band Haydn, the Beethoven, Schubert and Sibelius symphony cycles are among my favorites (I know you dislike his Sibelius, and I pray for you ) His Berlioz cycle is the best. Period. He certainly belongs in this poll.

Sarge

[Drasko]

Thanks for the info, Todd. I couldn't imagine he hadn't conducted at least a few classical era works at some point in his very long career. I just hadn't heard them, or heard of them. Any Beethoven sightings?

Sarge

There is Boulez studio recording of Eroica with Baden-Baden orchestra from early 60s. Don't know if it was ever commercially available. I think I have it somewhere as tape sourced mp3 or something, can't recall much about performance, probably not one to remember.

As for the poll, my vote went to Abbado.

[DavidRoss]

Michael Tilson Thomas is 65.  I don't know if I'd say that's a bit young.  He's over a decade older than Sinopoli was when he died, for instance.  Whether or not he should be counted among the greatest alive is another question.  (I think he should.)

I thought about this, but figured that he's still pretty healthy and probably still has his best years ahead (not that his career thus far has been short of stellar).  Let's see, Abbado is 77, Boulez 85, Haitink 81, but Barenboim only 68, and Chailly only 57 (!) ... okay, you're right, let's put MTT on the list, too!  (though he'll still fall short of my top choices.

[DarkAngel]

If Boulez had been a choice, I might have gone with him too...although I've never heard anything by him from the classical era...and if you don't conduct Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, can you really lay claim to being the greatest? His Mahler, Wagner and Bruckner, though, can't be faulted, and of course he's the master of the twentieth century.

Several posts are making the case for thier "favorite" conductor, but that is not the question posed.
The "greatest" living conductor must examine the mastery of entire body of work including opera.

This is where Abbado surpasses others on list.
His opera catalog is easily the most comprehensive of the list especially with Verdi and Puccini
His orchestral work also very comprehensive only lacking in baroque and earlier (pre Haydn) works

[DavidRoss]

That makes absolutely no sense to me, David. Davis's breadth of repertoire (the classical era through the 20th century), his skill at interpretation, his sensitivity as an accompanist in concertos (not only can you hear that, but you can see it when he conducts), his ability to conduct not only orchestral works but opera, are as fine as any conductor living today. He's headed the Boston, LSO, Dresden...in other words, some of the very best orchestras. His Mozart opera, his big band Haydn, the Beethoven, Schubert and Sibelius symphony cycles are among my favorites (I know you dislike his Sibelius, and I pray for you ) His Berlioz cycle is the best. Period. He certainly belongs in this poll.

Okay, put him there if you like.  I certainly recognize his breadth and competence and the depth of his experience...I just don't recognize the brilliance that you credit him with, and to me a high batting average for brilliance is a requirement for greatness.  (I realize, however, that "brilliance" is probably even more subjective and impossible to define to everyone's satisfaction than "greatness!")  BTW, I don't dislike his Sibelius, I just don't agree with those who think it's "brilliant."  Thoroughly competent is how his direction strikes me, and in virtually all of the repertoire you mention, he's a darned good "safe" choice...and that's certainly among the reasons he's one of my favorite conductors.

[Todd]

This is where Abbado surpasses others on list.  His opera catalog is easily the most comprehensive of the list especially with Verdi and Puccini

It may be broader, but some of the names mentioned have pretty broad operatic experience, too.  Colin Davis, for instance, has specialized in Mozart and Berlioz, and recorded plenty of other operas.  Barenboim is one of only a few conductors to conduct and record all of Wagner's mature operas (Abbado has not), and he's conducted and recorded a large number of other operas.  Muti was the head of La Scala, and has a very large number of opera recordings, some of them superb, including a rather healthy dose of Verdi.  As much as I like Abbado - he's clearly one of the great living conductors - I don't know if I'd agree with your statement, either as it pertains to volume or importance of opera. 

[DavidRoss]

The "greatest" living conductor must examine the mastery of entire body of work including opera.

If you mean must "demonstrate mastery of the entire repertoire," then no one qualifies. And as we have yet to agree on the criteria, let alone the weighting of each, we're unlikely to agree on the candidates. I do, however, enjoy reading what others think those criteria ought be.

The lack of work in opera is one of the things that disinclines me toward MTT, for instance.  However, few if any of the conductors proposed thus far have been as active in promoting contemporary music, or so successful in reaching out to educate general audiences and thus increase awareness of and interest in classical music as a vital art form, and such endeavors certainly ought to count for something...and maybe enough to outweigh the lack of work in opera.

[DarkAngel]

A couple more points for Abbado..........

Near the end of his career his recent Beethoven and Mahler complete symphony set performances are arguably his best work yet, has not slowed down or gone soft like some aged conductors, continues to challenge himself and others

He will also be remembered for advancing diversity in the composition of orchestras with his hand picked musicians for Lucerne Orchestra, large number of women and minorities reflecting a more universal appeal of classical music......bravo

Check the DVD releases of recent Mahler and Beethoven sets, very nice

[Scarpia]

If we are discussing greatest rather than favorite, then I think there have to be criteria that we can at least try to quantify.  These would be (in my opinion)

1 Covers wide range of Genres
2 Covers wide range of epochs
3 Covers wide range of cultural traditions
4 Consistent Excellence of performance
5 Unique Interpretations, influence on other conductors
6 Effective administrator, orchestra builder
7 Explores unconventional repertoire

I'd pick Haitink, who is not weak on any of these except perhaps 7 (and maybe 5) although not necessarily the absolute strongest on any.  I have to acknowledge Abbado also scores well, although I personally do not find his style at all attractive, and I can't list a single recording of his that has ever really moved me, expect perhaps for his Chicago Mahler 5.  I'd love to say Harnoncourt, but I have to admit that his acheivements are too narrowly focused in certain categories of music to make him a great generalist.

[karlhenning]

What do we want? Boulez added to the poll!  When do we want it? NOW!

[oabmarcus]

tough call, Probably Sawallisch.