BBC showing ‘negativity verging on hostility’ to classical documentaries

[LHC]

Most of the "Arts figures" I've heard of seem to have worked for the BBC and/or Radio 3, and not all have anything to do with classical music anyway. I like the idea that “The BBC is home to an unrivalled range of classical music on TV" - and here are two programmes to prove it.

At least one of the ‘arts’ figures to have signed the letter was cited as one of the problems with the BBC’s approach to music. Can you guess which Royal historian this might refer to:

Tony Palmer “despaired over a programme on the origins of Verdi’s La Traviata, which was first performed at La Fenice opera house in Venice, as it involved a British historian being filmed in a gondola, repeatedly exclaiming “wow” and telling the presenter that she had “never ever seen La Traviata”.”

[french frank]

At least one of the ‘arts’ figures to have signed the letter was cited as one of the problems with the BBC’s approach to music. Can you guess which Royal historian this might refer to:

Tony Palmer “despaired over a programme on the origins of Verdi’s La Traviata, which was first performed at La Fenice opera house in Venice, as it involved a British historian being filmed in a gondola, repeatedly exclaiming “wow” and telling the presenter that she had “never ever seen La Traviata”.”

Um … yes

[LMcD]

and with public money available to do so.

I understood Sky Arts had classical music programmes too?

They're few and far between and regularly repeated.

[french frank]

They're few and far between and regularly repeated.

So, the BBC not 'unrivalled', then?

[Cockney Sparrow]

I've not been here to track the conversation since my post yesterday. We're being told there is less money to be spent on new work, and classical music is hardly a priority in the BBC'S eyes. Their expenditure on the Proms is probably supposed to throw up material to tick new work on this genre, to last the audience the rest of the year as its re-spun and re-worked.

Genuine expenditure will be directed to those under represented minorities and getting those boxes ticked in preparation for diversity audits. It appears the likes of Tony Palmer are right - they are of no interest being....well their profile is........(you'd better categorise their boxes yourself)............ I suppose if he financed a film/feature without the BBC, they might take a broadcast at a knock-down price. We've probably seen the last of his new work on TV and I suppose the same considerations apply to John Bridcut, etc.

This morning, at 8.22 a.m. on the today programme - a piece on Humphrey Burton's biography. Probably common knowledge here, its publication and the longevity of the man wasn't foremost in my mind...... Mentions his TV programmes with Bernstein (including that one..) and also Britten, etc etc. 8 minutes of nostalgia and regret for what has passed and is unlikely to return. Don't think Humphrey would have had much truck with Costume Queen Historians on a serious music subject...........

[french frank]

This morning, at 8.22 a.m. on the today programme - a piece on Humphrey Burton's biography. Probably common knowledge here, its publication and the longevity of the man wasn't foremost in my mind...... Mentions his TV programmes with Bernstein (including that one..) and also Britten, etc etc. 8 minutes of nostalgia and regret for what has passed and is unlikely to return. Don't think Humphrey would have had much truck with Costume Queen Historians on a serious music subject...........

ardcarp started a thread about it. I listened and thought it strange that although they had HB on talking about his own programming, they didn't mention the controversial criticism directed at the BBC - which this thread deals with. Or did I miss something? Naughtie said nothng, HB said nothing. Or did that, by chance, get thoroughly discussed later?

[Zucchini]

So, the BBC not 'unrivalled', then?

unrivalled = unsurpassed - like Heinz tomato soup

[cloughie]

unrivalled = unsurpassed - like Heinz tomato soup

Depends on how you view Heinz Tomato Soup or the BBC for that matter!

[Serial_Apologist]

ardcarp started a thread about it. I listened and thought it strange that although they had HB on talking about his own programming, they didn't mention the controversial criticism directed at the BBC - which this thread deals with. Or did I miss something? Naughtie said nothng, HB said nothing. Or did that, by chance, get thoroughly discussed later?

The Princess Di interview matter had been discussed earlier - this was a separate item, dealing with music presentation on BBC TV under Humphrey Burton's tenure, nothing to do with Radio 3 or criticism of the BBC. After it the items discussed on Today were the Indian variant of Covid, Palestine, and the putting down of two brown bears.

[french frank]

The Princess Di interview matter had been discussed earlier - this was a separate item, dealing with music presentation on BBC TV under Humphrey Burton's tenure, nothing to do with Radio 3 or criticism of the BBC. After it the items discussed on Today were the Indian variant of Covid, Palestine, and the putting down of two brown bears.

Yes, I got that. It just seemed strange (on a BBC «News» programme) to have an item about Humphrey Burton and his BBC classical musical programmes and not mention the very topical news item of the criticism (including the criticism of Humphrey Burton himself) that the BBC wasn't producing the arts programmes it used to: "The BBC is failing audiences by offering classical music documentaries that lack revelation and risk if they are made at all" [Guardian] That was a story.

[ardcarp]

I'm a bear of very little brain, but I Was Glad that the news saturation with the Princess Di story gave way to something interesting to me, and related to The Arts. Even leaving The Arts aside, I'm always gob-smacked that a particular story will dominate all the media for several days, completely ignoring other things, good or bad, that are going on in the world. Who decides what item/shock story is going to be the one worth broadcasting at any one time?

[subcontrabass]

Yes, I got that. It just seemed strange (on a BBC «News» programme) to have an item about Humphrey Burton and his BBC classical musical programmes and not mention the very topical news item of the criticism (including the criticism of Humphrey Burton himself) that the BBC wasn't producing the arts programmes it used to: "The BBC is failing audiences by offering classical music documentaries that lack revelation and risk if they are made at all" [Guardian] That was a story.

The segment was clearly pre-recorded. The introduction said "Humphrey Burton has been talking to our special correspondent James Naughtie".

[french frank]

The segment was clearly pre-recorded. The introduction said "Humphrey Burton has been talking to our special correspondent James Naughtie".

Yes, no knowing how long before, though the 'negativity and hostility' story was in the Guardian on the 14th and the programme was broadcast on 22nd. Come to think of it, I imagine Burton wasn't particularly focused on the earlier story because his new book was the hook on which the Today interview was based.