Franz Welser-Most, director designate of the venerable Cleveland Orchestra, on the difference between American and European orchestras: “American orchestras come prepared, which European orchestras mostly don’t. You must be a really great instrumentalist to play in an American orchestra. In Europe, there is a different angle: good musicianship first, and then the technical side hopefully will be there as well. This is one reason why a lot of marriages between American orchestras and European music directors have been very happy and successful.” – Los Angeles Times