Florence Foster Jenkins

[ardcarp]

The film was on BBC4 tonight. First time I'd seen it. Very well done and at times touching.

[subcontrabass]

It came over to me as a very affectionate portrait of the final days of a sad and very ill old lady.

Questions:

(a) Do the BBC count this as part of their programming of classical music on TV?

(b) Why the scheduling immediately before Cardiff Singer of the World?

[ardcarp]

Why the scheduling immediately before Cardiff Singer of the World?

That did occur to me. In the BBC's scheduling system, both items merely came under the heading of 'singing'.

[LMcD]

It came over to me as a very affectionate portrait of the final days of a sad and very ill old lady.

Questions:

(a) Do the BBC count this as part of their programming of classical music on TV?

(b) Why the scheduling immediately before Cardiff Singer of the World?

The words 'delicious contrast' come to mind - a humorous but realistic depiction of the gulf that can exist between aspiration and ability.
Excellent performance by Hugh Grant, I thought.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I haven’t seen the film but something within me feels uncomfortable at laughing at FFJ’s recorded efforts. Some many young peoples’ lives have been blighted by being told they can’t sing in tune or that they are “tone-deaf” - whatever that means . They are then frightened to join in even when the event is primarily religious or communal . I think that is a terrible shame . I also think the cult of vocal perfection (to which I admit I have been a bit of an acolyte) puts a lot of people off...

[Cockney Sparrow]

Occasionally I'm asked to generally welcome / encourage a brave soul who has come to our open rehearsals.

Our MD obviously believes in baptism of fire if, for example, we are rehearsing Messiah, first item will be "Great was the company of the preachers". I ask them to hang on to the tea break ”it won't all be like this" but anyway if I end up saying goodbye to someone making a quick retreat I try to get a phone number with a promise to find a community or other choir they could contact. I don't believe anyone who wants to sing should be lost to such a rewarding experience.

If only our Culture/ Health minister took the same view, everyone could get back to safe, still distanced singing.........

[Lordgeous]

If I remember rightly, diddn't Beecham choose her Queen of the Night aria as one of his desert island discs?

[Richard Barrett]

I haven’t seen the film but something within me feels uncomfortable at laughing at FFJ’s recorded efforts.

The film is much more nuanced than making her into a figure of fun.

[LMcD]

The film is much more nuanced than making her into a figure of fun.

[french frank]

If I remember rightly, diddn't Beecham choose her Queen of the Night aria as one of his desert island discs?

Not quite unless he appeared more than once.

Johann Strauss II - Mein Herr Marquis (Laughing Song)(from Die Fledermaus)

[Ein Heldenleben]

The film is much more nuanced than making her into a figure of fun.

That’s why I was careful to link my comments to her recordings and their frequent outings on radio for the purposes of general hilarity . To which my response to the presenter is ok Leontyne / Dietrich give us a song !