Recommended Television Programmes

[LMcD]

The Lark Ascending (BBC4 /iPlayer)
Welcome repeat of this programme from 2012, introduced by Diana Rigg, which examines the enduring popularity of RVW's 14-minute masterpiece. Contributors include Tasmin Little, and Peter Sallis, who believes that this work 'speaks for England' and expresses the wish to have a copy buried alongside him when he dies - I hope it was granted! The programme ends with a complete performance in Shirehampton Public Hall, where the work was premiered, of the original version for piano and violin.

[muzzer]

The Horizon Special on the development of the vaccines was imo one of the best and most important things I’ve seen on tv for a very long time.

[Stanfordian]

The Lark Ascending (BBC4 /iPlayer)
Welcome repeat of this programme from 2012, introduced by Diana Rigg, which examines the enduring popularity of RVW's 14-minute masterpiece. Contributors include Tasmin Little, and Peter Sallis, who believes that this work 'speaks for England' and expresses the wish to have a copy buried alongside him when he dies - I hope it was granted! The programme ends with a complete performance in Shirehampton Public Hall, where the work was premiered, of the original version for piano and violin.

I was rather disappointed with the programme. To me Diana Rigg was curious choice for presenter. It's shame that Tasmin Little didn't play the 'Lark'.

[johncorrigan]

We thought we'd tune into 'Together', a lockdown drama on BBC2 with Sharon Horgan and James McAvoy - I have to say that after ten minutes I was thinking that there was no way I could stick with this warring pair for an hour and a half. However it calmed down a bit and turned into a very interesting look at relationship in the time of covid. They also interspersed snippets of news from the past year in there reminding me of moments of despair and hope. Certainly more of a play than a film, I thought the performances from the two leads were great, and the hour and a half shot by.

[LMcD]

I was rather disappointed with the programme. To me Diana Rigg was curious choice for presenter. It's shame that Tasmin Little didn't play the 'Lark'.

I think the choice of presenter was a none-too-subtle way of drawing attention to the programme, which was largely 'left to its own devices' after her brief introduction. I thought the choice of a young performer (15 years old?) to perform the work on this special occasion was intended to illustrate the work's continuing popularity. Its popularity with Classic FM's listeners - who are, I suspect, younger on average than Radio 3's - suggests that it's in no danger of falling out of favour. Tasmin's BBC Proms performance is of course available on YouTube.

[Serial_Apologist]

Wednesday night's Treasures of the British Library on Sky Arts - one of an excellent series with personalities introducing texts and artifacts housed at the institution - had Nicola Benedetti being shown the original manuscripts of the violin concertos of Elgar and Beethoven, and treating us to on-site a capella performances of excerpts from each. Ms Benedetti talked about her upbringing in Scotland, and is a most charming, unassumingly well-versed personality, as well as being gorgeous!

[Stanfordian]

I think the choice of presenter was a none-too-subtle way of drawing attention to the programme, which was largely 'left to its own devices' after her brief introduction. I thought the choice of a young performer (15 years old?) to perform the work on this special occasion was intended to illustrate the work's continuing popularity. Its popularity with Classic FM's listeners - who are, I suspect, younger on average than Radio 3's - suggests that it's in no danger of falling out of favour. Tasmin's BBC Proms performance is of course available on YouTube.

Hello LMcD,

A lot of assumptions made there.

[mikealdren]

Wednesday night's Treasures of the British Library on Sky Arts - one of an excellent series with personalities introducing texts and artifacts housed at the institution - had Nicola Benedetti being shown the original manuscripts of the violin concertos of Elgar and Beethoven, and treating us to on-site a capella performances of excerpts from each. Ms Benedetti talked about her upbringing in Scotland, and is a most charming, unassumingly well-versed personality, as well as being gorgeous!

I'll have to watch that although the original Beethoven manuscript is in the Austrian National Library and was the subject of an episode of 'Tales from the Stave' with excellent clips from an unattributed performer. The British Library copy was reputedly made under Beethoven's supervision for English publication by Clementi.

[ardcarp]

I think the choice of presenter was a none-too-subtle way of drawing attention to the programme, which was largely 'left to its own devices' after her brief introduction. I thought the choice of a young performer (15 years old?) to perform the work on this special occasion was intended to illustrate the work's continuing popularity. Its popularity with Classic FM's listeners - who are, I suspect, younger on average than Radio 3's - suggests that it's in no danger of falling out of favour. Tasmin's BBC Proms performance is of course available on YouTube.

I dimly remember commenting on the programme first time around. The presentation didn't bother me, and the bulk of the programme was a complete performance. Young player astonishingly good, with much subtle nuance. The piece loses something without its orchestral timbres, but I dare say money and space had something to do with that. Did I comment on the piano last time? More mellow than a modern Steinway and not 'concert' size. Maybe it was more in keeping with what RVW may have heard.

I notice nobody mentioned Nigel Kennedy. He does quite a good Lark too, IMHO.

[LMcD]

I dimly remember commenting on the programme first time around. The presentation didn't bother me, and the bulk of the programme was a complete performance. Young player astonishingly good, with much subtle nuance. The piece loses something without its orchestral timbres, but I dare say money and space had something to do with that. Did I comment on the piano last time? More mellow than a modern Steinway and not 'concert' size. Maybe it was more in keeping with what RVW may have heard.

I notice nobody mentioned Nigel Kennedy. He does quite a good Lark too, IMHO.

Never mind - Michael Kennedy made a brief appearance, and I'm sure he's up with the larks.

[Serial_Apologist]

On Sky Arts: Discovering - very good series on British film directors, every Thursday night at 7 pm.

Tonight: Richard Attenborough

Same channel, tonight: The South Bank Show- features on singer Arlo Parks and playwrite Sam Bailey - 9 pm

[LMcD]

Barry Humphries on The Music Banned By Hitler (banned as it was regarded as a prime example of 'entartete Kunst'). (Sky Arts).

[DracoM]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000p3p4

Brilliant autobioig insight into Frank Gardener - BBC's Security corr, Middle East expert etc.

[LMcD]

I don't know whether people read Hemingway these days, and it will be interesting to see whether Ken Burns's series (BBC 4 and iPlayer) will spark any renewal of interest in his work. I thought Episode 1 beautifully paced and fascinatingly informative. It's straight chronology of an old-fashioned kind - no fancy camerawork, jump cuts or other devices that mar some documentaries, and all the better for that!

[Historian]

I don't know whether people read Hemingway these days...

Sorry if this is off-topic, but recently finished 'The sun also rises'. Sure I am not the only one still reading Hemingway. Don't watch much television nowadays as I find reading more rewarding. Thank you for the tip: I may make an exception in this case.