musicianiship--when is it bad or good ?

tobias, i think you misinterpret my position.

i believe all questions of quality in the realm of the arts is purely subjective and opinion based. whatever standards exist are still based upon opinion.

if i am trying to decide upon a cd to buy, a book to read, a movie to watch, a component to buy a concert. etc. , i want information, not opinion. i cannot necessarily base a decision upon an opinion with which i may agree or disagree, but as tvad illustrated, if i want to be confident an orchestra is playing like an ensemble and all instruments are tuned properly, his description is all i need. once i listen, i will decide my sentiments toward the performance.

if i want to buy an amplifier and ask if it is warm and define warmth, upon receiving a factual answer or at least one based upon honest perceptions, i can then make an intelligent decisions.

my point is that i have my own criterion as to what i enjoy. all i need is information as to the presence or absence of factors which i can use to make an intelligent decision.

life is a chance. if i want to make sure the pianist played all notes correctly etc., i will go to hear him/her play.
i cannot predict whether i will like or dislike what i hear.

there is to much persuasion out ther either implicit or explicit and not enough information.

as channel 5 says "we report, i will decide". this philosophy is consistent with my detached reviewing style.

Mrtennis,
If you or anybody here saw Coen Bro's movie "The Man Who Wasn't There" one french piano teacher once said:
"Ze music comes not from fingers! It should come fgom hart..."

I think musicianship is a good thing when it serves the music. It's a bad thing when it (abilty, virtuosity) become the object and is secondary to the music.

I think what we hear today played on modern pianofortes' is not the same sound tone-wise as when Beethoven composed/performed his piano music back in the day. And who has the right to say what is being played correctly? not as If Beethoven will be in the audience eh?
Go to the concert, enjoy, go home. Its a one time only experience, who gives a rats bottom what a critic thinks? as long as you've enjoyed it. I've got admit I've never been to a 'bad' classical concert, not that I would know what a bad one was, except maybe if the pianist was playing in the key of C and the orchestra was playing in B. If there were some bad ones, I care not. I've enjoyed all I've been to.