"Previn at the BBC" today, BBC 4

[Nick Armstrong]

Transmitted at 8pm today, viewable here

Good to be reminded of the LSO Music Nights - and ... at 4'51" in the programme I SPY A MEMBER OF THIS FORUM PLAYING THE CANDIDE OVERTURE HORN SOLO AND SPORTING MAGNIFICENT AND YOUTHFUL MUTTON-CHOP WHISKERS!!

[Tony Halstead]

Transmitted at 8pm today, viewable here

Good to be reminded of the LSO Music Nights - and ... at 4'51" in the programme I SPY A MEMBER OF THIS FORUM PLAYING THE CANDIDE OVERTURE HORN SOLO AND SPORTING MAGNIFICENT AND YOUTHFUL MUTTON-CHOP WHISKERS!!

Guilty as charged, M'Lud!

[Nick Armstrong]

Guilty as charged, M'Lud!

It's a fair cop !!

[arthroceph]

Had never heard about the Thomas Allen / Carmina Burana episode .. there I was, thinking, wow ... how youthful and strong he looks, and he sits down and conks out!

Amazing story then of somebody coming up from the audience to take his place. Never heard anything like it!

[Tony Halstead]

Yes indeed but what a shame that 'Patrick' who saved the day wasn't actually identified by his surname ( unless I missed that?)

[ardcarp]

Amazing story then of somebody coming up from the audience to take his place

I remember it well!

Thought the programme tonight was well put together. No intrusive 'personality' hosting it, just a few words from an ageing Previn and lots of music.

[Barbirollians]

I thought Previn looked quite chirpy and certainly better than when I saw him interviewed last year .

[cloughie]

I thought Previn looked quite chirpy and certainly better than when I saw him interviewed last year .

What a brilliant musician, conductor, composer, arranger,....he's done the lot, and still continues to !

[Richard Tarleton]

Excellent programme. I remember Private Eye used to refer to the LSO as the Previnettes.

I had a ticket for the concert at which John Williams was due to play the Previn guitar concerto. The LSO changed the programme at short notice, moving the premiere of the concerto to the concert at which Edward Heath conducted the Cockaigne overture. We got the Concierto de Aranjuez (I wasn't altogether sorry).

I'd taken my mother. Some people behind us pointed out Mia Farrow, who was sitting not far away. John Williams played just before the interval; in the second half (which began with John Ogdon playing the Grieg, standing in for an indisposed Gina Bachauer), John Williams came and sat in the empty seat next to Mia Farrow.

Previn said (did he make a little speech at the concert?) that as he had let Heath conduct his orchestra for a day, perhaps Heath could let him be Prime Minister for a day.

[Mary Chambers]

I didn't see all the programme, but I was delighted by the clip of Janet Baker.

[Stanley Stewart]

Sheer pleasure for me as a voyage of discovery and such a treat to see remastered footage in improved picture and sound. I did an overnight transfer from HD to DVD and there was ample room for the Fanny Waterman documentary which preceded the Previn documentary with historical footage of Leeds in days of yore. A rejuvenating mother-earth character.

I've taken the Andre Previn memoir 'No Minor Chords', (Doubleday-1992) from the shelves to browse many hilarious anecdotes and stylish wit over the weekend; the last days of Hollywood's Golden Days and his recollections of the rogues' gallery of many film studio legends. Amused in the documentary to see what was probably his suggestion of a studio setting of separate rostra, like an MGM extravaganza, to give a sense of opulence and spread for the LSO. Other sequences at the RFH also brought many reminders of his invigorating concerts. Fascinated to absorb the cultivated relaxation of his introductions which became almost an art form for him and, in particular, Leonard Bernstein - a 4 DVD set, Leonard Bernstein's OMNIBUS - archival material from American TV. Both mercifully free of po-faced solemnity and self-importance!

[aeolium]

Excellent programme. I remember Private Eye used to refer to the LSO as the Previnettes.

But they hardly had any women!

It was great to see some of that footage again & to see what a long period he had doing his own TV shows. An astonishingly talented man, and full of wit and charisma. Is there anyone around nowadays who could do something similar, in the (extremely) unlikely event that a broadcaster would commission it? I was thinking perhaps of Esa-Pekka Salonen, also a composer and conductor, who could present a series introducing C20/C21 works.

[Richard Tarleton]

But they hardly had any women!

One, as I recall - Renata Scheffel-Stein on harp! I stand to be corrected!

[BBMmk2]

I saw the Carmina Burana concert. Very good, despite what happened!

[MrGongGong]

despite what happened!

What happened?