Axing of BBC Singers and related cuts

[DoctorT]

https://thecritic.co.uk/excellence-for-everyone/

[french frank]

https://thecritic.co.uk/excellence-for-everyone/

A good piece by Alexandra Wilson. Surely the message should get through to these people that they may have the power to make vital editorial/artistic decisions but they aren't qualified to do so?

[Wolsey]

Those with a Twitter account will see that a letter signed by 150 Directors of Music, Organists and Assistant Organists of cathedrals and college chapels, past and present, in the UK and abroad - as well as Professors and Lecturers at University Music Faculties, has been sent today to Tim Davie et al.

[Bryn]

Those with a Twitter account will see that a letter signed by 150 Directors of Music, Organists and Assistant Organists of cathedrals and college chapels, past and present, in the UK and abroad - as well as Professors and Lecturers at University Music Faculties, has been sent today to Tim Davie et al.

No need to sign up to Twitter to read it. I left Twitter when Musk took it over but had no trouble accessing the item.

[Pulcinella]

Today's Times article:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tears-but-no-protests-plea-as-bbc-singers-near-final-chorus-hg3dt92lz?shareToken=896df455c5766287a11f8191e816990d

And indeed the third leader:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-on-the-decision-to-disband-bbc-singers-out-of-tune-fk3ggdxzk?shareToken=d75650ddecf9ad4b06be4d3c805dd3eb

[oddoneout]

I see that on Friday the BBCS performed a concert titled "All shall be well". Let us hope so...

[eighthobstruction]

I see that on Friday the BBCS performed a concert titled "All shall be well". Let us hope so...

....if they are being disbanded, I do hope they arrange a typically BBC Singers version (with a little Mike Samms Singersesque)of - "My Way" - think how good that would be....

[Cockney Sparrow]

This morning on Today (R4) John Eliot Gardiner was interviewed - the news he was to conduct music at the Coronation. He made a robust criticism of the decision to disband the Singers - the proffered rationale of the BBC being "baloney" (as well as more general comments on the philistinism resident amongst decision makers in our benighted country). As to the BBC at about 8.25 am:

"all of the evidence suggests that the people who made this decision don't give a flying fig and none of them have ever attended a choral concert".

[Ein Heldenleben]

....if they are being disbanded, I do hope they arrange a typically BBC Singers version (with a little Mike Samms Singersesque)of - "My Way" - think how good that would be....

Please don’t ….the singing of My Way should be restricted to Sinatra and ,out of courtesy to the lyric writer, Paul Anka.

[Bryn]

Please don’t ….the singing of My Way should be restricted to Sinatra and ,out of courtesy to the lyric writer, Paul Anka.

What about Sid Vichyssoise?

[Ein Heldenleben]

What about Sid Vichyssoise?

Yep agreed - almost definitive

[ardcarp]

This morning on Today (R4) John Eliot Gardiner was interviewed - the news he was to conduct music at the Coronation. He made a robust criticism of the decision to disband the Singers - the proffered rationale of the BBC being "baloney" (as well as more general comments on the philistinism resident amongst decision makers in our benighted country)

.

Yes, I heard that and was most heartened (and indeed pleasurably surprised) that Jeggers diverted the interview from Coronation Conducting to the BBCS and to BBC Philistinism in general.
Yesterday I sang at the funeral of an early member of The Monteverdi Choir. He was not a great fan of Jeggers' personality, but that interview altered my opinion of him considerably!

[french frank]

This morning on Today (R4) John Eliot Gardiner was interviewed - the news he was to conduct music at the Coronation. He made a robust criticism of the decision to disband the Singers - the proffered rationale of the BBC being "baloney" (as well as more general comments on the philistinism resident amongst decision makers in our benighted country). As to the BBC at about 8.25 am:

"all of the evidence suggests that the people who made this decision don't give a flying fig and none of them have ever attended a choral concert".

This is the Dorset farmer who'll be conducting at the Coronation, is it?

[Bryn]

This is the Dorset farmer who'll be conducting at the Coronation, is it?

"Alongside his composing works Sir John runs an organic farm at Springhead near Fontmell Magna near Shaftesbury where he is also a patron of the Springhead charity." [Emphasis added]

[french frank]

"Alongside his composing works Sir John runs an organic farm at Springhead near Fontmell Magna near Shaftesbury where he is also a patron of the Springhead charity." [Emphasis added]

He'll need to get in a fair bit of conducting practice between now and the big occasion.

No wonder he was invited on to Radio 4 - no doubt (perhaps) even with apologies