Classical Tyro

The World’s Best Orchestras

In 2010 Gramophone created a list of the world's greatest orchestras. Like any institution an orchestra has its ups and downs, and a list that is more than a decade old might seem outdated. In any case, Gramophone provided a credible list that remains a good place to start. If you are new to classical music, you won't go wrong listening to recordings from any of the orchestras on Gramophone's list.
American Orchestras

The Big Five
During the 1950s and 1960s the five orchestras listed below were identified as America’s “Big Five.” Although some think the term has become outdated, many still refer to the following orchestras as America's “Big Five.”

According to Gramophone's list of the world's greatest orchestras, the seven best orchestras in the United States, ranked in order, are the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. This would add the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra to form America’s “Big Eight.” Again, Gramophone's ranking is over a decade old, and an orchestra can go through many changes over that much time.

Notable American Orchestras (not including the "Big Five")
My apologies for the “notable” orchestras I have overlooked. Send me a message via Twitter (@NMJim), and I’ll add other orchestras to the list.

A Beginner's Guide to Great Music