Young Musician of the Year 2018

[Study Session]

Begins tonight on BBC4 at 7.30. I can't find a thread for it elsewhere (which may be telling in itself). Wonder what the music/talk ratio will be like this time?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm inclined to give it a miss. Everyone of them is certain to be absolutely amazing and incredible.

[Study Session]

Last time, if memory serves, we were told how brilliant and special they all were, while at the same time being reassured that these strange creatures with an interest in music were just normal young people after all. Planning to record it to see if the approach has smartened up, but without great faith.

[Stanfordian]

I'm inclined to give it a miss. Everyone of them is certain to be absolutely amazing and incredible.

I'm of the same inclination for some reason. Although I have attended rounds of the actual competition back in the day.

[ardcarp]

Watched it.

1. At least there is (at last) some music on 4 on a Friday night
2. Presentation as last year. Slow-mo walk of the Judges. Two quasi spontaneous dialoguing presenters.
Etc. Etc. More talk than music.
3. Worst of all. .hear two bars of a piece which is then interrupted by announcing what it is.
4. But good to hear some talented young musicians. Personally I would have chosen the guitarist who I thought was superb.

[oddoneout]

Given the increasingly low profile of the event now, what are the chances of it lasting much longer? Why oh why can it not be centre stage on proper public view instead of carved up into bits and pieces on BBC4? Presumably because it's deemed "classical" and middle class, and therefore undesirable.
It's not as if putting it on BBC2 would create mass deprivation for the viewing public who (possibly)don't want to watch it given the excess of alternative viewing options, unlike in its early days when channels were counted on the fingers of one hand.

[Stunsworth]

4. But good to hear some talented young musicians. Personally I would have chosen the guitarist who I thought was superb.

Read the following bearing in mind I have no musical training.

i had the guitarist down as the winner too. I thought the cellist was in with a chance but his tuning was suspect towards the end of the Stravinsky. I thought the bass player and at least one of the violinists also had intonation problem at the high end of the register.

As as I say I don’t have musical training and certainly don’t have perfect pitch.

[gradus]

Hard to judge as they're all so good but I thought the guitarist shone even brighter than his fellow competitors.

[Nevilevelis]

Read the following bearing in mind I have no musical training.

i had the guitarist down as the winner too. I thought the cellist was in with a chance but his tuning was suspect towards the end of the Stravinsky. I thought the bass player and at least one of the violinists also had intonation problem at the high end of the register.

As as I say I don’t have musical training and certainly don’t have perfect pitch.

You don't need perfect pitch to discern poor tuning - your observations are spot-on. You have a keen ear.

Torrin Williams (great surname for a classical guitarist!) was also my choice as winner - star quality and captivating musicality. He will go far.

The blather and babble over the music was enraging and makes me wonder if the producers have any background in classical music.

NVV

[LMcD]

Too much talk, not enough music - sometimes simultaneously, e.g. at the start of Ravel's 'Tzigane'. I'll wait for the semi-finals.

[Mary Chambers]

I am very surprised that the extraordinary Stephanie Childress has now been in two strings semi-finals, and not won either of them. She’s already 18, so next time she will be too old. I doubt if it will affect her career.

Yes, they are all astonishing and making a choice is virtually impossible.

[BBMmk2]

Hi Mary. i doubt it very much. Was'nt she so poised, technically unchallenged with the music.

We can count our blessings that the BBC is showing of the talent at all. You can hear the whole concert via iPlayer anyway! I disagreed with the outcome though. I thought the young gal on violin was tremendous, Stephanie Childress, The Cambridge student. Much better than the cello guy, imo. Although I do also think the guitar player should have gone through as well. Unfortunately maybe the guitar is still the Cinderella?

[DracoM]

The cellist won?????????????

Blimey! Heard him and thought 'so what'?

[greenilex]

Agree about Stephanie Childress. Most impressive.

[DracoM]