The importance of programming

I've just posted my review of the Montreal Symphony concert at Carnegie Hall on Oregon Music News. It points out how critical concert programming is, and upon further reflection, I think that Kalmar hit it right on the nail with the Oregon Symphony's program. Kent Nagano went a bit off the rails with the Montreal Symphony program, and it seemed that the two encores that his orchestra played were an attempt to make up for a concert that was supposed to feature the Montreal Symphony rather than fragments of the orchestra and a solo piano recital.