CSO Named Best in U.S.

By Prescott Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 23, 2008 4:36PM

The London-based classical music magazine Gramophone has just named our very own Chicago Symphony Orchestra the best orchestra in the United States, and 5th overall in the world. That seems like quite an honor -- the CSO must be excited about that, right? Not quite:

"I think it is safe to say that we are not advocates or necessarily firm believers in lists of this sort, given the subjective nature of these types of rankings," said CSO President Deborah Rutter, using the sort of language that one usually hears from someone who's just been voted off the island, not named king of the hill.

Sure, the demure Rutter is not thrilled now, but wait until she hears that Chicagoist has named the CSO the #1 professional orchestra located in downtown Chicago! Here's the CSO in action with a bit of Tchaikovsky conducted by the legendary Daniel Barenboim: