That Same Old Orchestra Sound

Critics have long complained about a supposed “homogenization” of orchestral sound, an abandonment of the distinct traditions that used to characterize each city’s unique orchestra. Some of the griping is overblown, but some stereotypes are rooted in truth. “North American orchestras still tend to show off their wind soloists at the expense of ensemble sound, a situation made more obvious by the players’ polyglot origins and training… Orchestras used to have a much more localized identity, which helped give them a more individual personality.” Of course, the nationalization of the audition process has also resulted in a surfeit of great orchestras, where many of the “distinctive” ensembles of the past used to be quite mediocre due to a lack of top-notch musicians outside the major urban centers.