NSO and Eschenbach venture to Spain, taking the well-trod route

It's not so much the lack of imagination of Christoph Eschenbach's programming that irritates -- I like standard repertoire just fine, most of the time -- it's the notion that different packaging is supposed to make the product somehow fresher and more interesting. But just as with the National Symphony Orchestra music director's miniature Tchaikovsky festival earlier in the season, the music he "curates" doesn't need any help.