In November 2008, classical music critics from the United States, Europe and Asia were asked to list their top twenty favorite orchestras from around the globe. The list was published in the British classical music magazine Gramophone.

Orchestras, according to the experts, have become rather similar in their sound. It’s difficult to tell one from the other. They are all full of wonderful musicians and sound very much alike.

The orchestras that made the list of Top 20 Orchestras in the World did so because there is something unique about them. Whether it is the strength of their brass section or unusual percussion arrangements, there is something that sets them apart and is instantly identifiable.

The survey says, these are the world’s top, most distinctive orchestras.

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20. Czech Philharmonic

19. Saito Kinen Symphony Orchestra

18. Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

17. Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

16. Leningrad Philharmonic

15. Russian National Orchestra

14. Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra

13. San Francisco Symphony

12. New York Philharmonic

11. Boston Symphony Orchestra

10. Dresden Staatskapelle

9. Budapest Festival Orchestra

8. Los Angeles Philharmonic

7. Cleveland Orchestra

6. Bavarian Radio Symphony

5. Chicago Symphony Orchestra

4. London Symphony Orchestra

3. Vienna Philharmonic

2. Berlin Philharmonic

1. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam