[A.Smith]

Hhmm,
yes listen to everyone mentioned. Their all so different, to mention a common trait is just about impossible. It comes down to personal taste. I won't address contentious issues, but I'd say clarity of articulation/production is important.

 

[A.Smith]

To quote Formeau "Are, vibrato it is so dangerous!"

 

[A.Smith]

And then, there is my teacher with even much better tone, but he is not internationally known...

Who is your teacher?

 

[A.Smith]

Have you heard Delangle on the Denisov concerto? I sure as hell wouldn't mind sounding like that! In regard to JEK I loathe his sound in the concerto cd, but have only recently heard him on other recordings and find the tone to be totally different, so I agree with the earlier statement that something weird must have been going on that day. The other recordings are much better.