Absolutely! That, the skill level of their respective conductors and, as an extension of skill level, the stylistic identity of the players and hence the orchestra. Eventhough the traditionally strong stylistic personalities of the various orchestras has been getting homogenized in our era of globalization they still remain an obvious force. This individuality is a result of the cultural forces in a given country and the resultant training that musicians receive. Every major orchestra has a certain "sound" identity which would not be able to be expressed if the skill level of the players were not extremely high. The Berlin players are unlikely to "forget to put the meat in the Gerschnetzeltes" :-)
BTW, thanks for the kind words. There are others who are deserving; not the least of which are the music lovers.
BTW, thanks for the kind words. There are others who are deserving; not the least of which are the music lovers.