Rameau's "Zais".

[MickyD]

It is rare that one gets a chance to hear this wonderful Rameau opera performed, so what does some bright spark at Radio 3 do when the chance comes along? Break up the four acts over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and stick them almost unnoticed in the schedules at the end of an unconnected programme featuring Simon Rattle. Brilliant. Is this the shape of opera to come on Radio 3?

[doversoul1]

So this is how it is. I heard the announcement but could not find it on the schedule page and was beginning to believe that I’d misheard it. This is really beyond any excuse. What on earth are they thinking (if ever they do such thing as thinking these days)?

[MickyD]

I can only hope that this Rousset performance will be released on CD. There are very few of us who are lucky enough to possess the extremely rare Leonhardt version - this work has been unjustly neglected for far too long.

[Bryn]

So this is how it is. I heard the announcement but could not find it on the schedule page and was beginning to believe that I’d misheard it. This is really beyond any excuse. What on earth are they thinking (if ever they do such thing as thinking these days)?

Strange. It's on the online schedule I consulted, replete with cast list. You did hit the "show more" button, didn't you?

[Black Swan]

I can only hope that this Rousset performance will be released on CD. There are very few of us who are lucky enough to possess the extremely rare Leonhardt version - this work has been unjustly neglected for far too long.

I too am hoping that Rousset will release this on CD. I am coming to love Rameau's operas more and more.

J

[doversoul1]

Strange. It's on the online schedule I consulted, replete with cast list. You did hit the "show more" button, didn't you?

There is no mention of it on the week’s schedule page where I first go and check what’s on.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/programmes/schedules/this_week

[jean]

The first part was clearly flagged up in Radio Times for Monday, to be fair.

There are quite often operas tucked away in the afternoon schedule, though they're usually at the beginning of the slot and split between Thursday and and Friday.

[MickyD]

But surely splitting up an opera over four days is not exactly ideal?

[jean]

Three days in this case, I think.

No, I don't like it - but they always do it for these afternoon opera broadcasts.

[MickyD]

OK...I'm obviously new to the concept, I had no idea. What a ghastly thing to do!

[Flosshilde]

There are quite often operas tucked away in the afternoon schedule, though they're usually at the beginning of the slot and split between Thursday and and Friday.

No, I don't like it - but they always do it for these afternoon opera broadcasts.

Not quite correct. Thursday is the 'normal' day for 'matinee' opera broadcasts, overlapping to Friday if it is too long to fit into one afternoon (not many are), so if you were interested in opera you'd expect to hear one then. They are also listed in the weekly schedule. There is information about 'Zais' if you click on 'See more', but if you aren't interested in Simon Rattle, the Berlin Phil, or Brahms' & Schubert's first symphonies, why would you want to do that? If you were interested in Rameau's 'Zais' there's no way you could tell it was on from the weekly schedule.

[jean]

Well I haven't counted and I may be wrong, but I seem to wait until Friday for the second part more often than not.

The moral, anyway, is - don't stop buying Radio Times.

[MickyD]

Not quite correct. Thursday is the 'normal' day for 'matinee' opera broadcasts, overlapping to Friday if it is too long to fit into one afternoon (not many are), so if you were interested in opera you'd expect to hear one then. They are also listed in the weekly schedule. There is information about 'Zais' if you click on 'See more', but if you aren't interested in Simon Rattle, the Berlin Phil, or Brahms' & Schubert's first symphonies, why would you want to do that? If you were interested in Rameau's 'Zais' there's no way you could tell it was on from the weekly schedule.

My thoughts entirely, Floss.

[Flosshilde]

The moral, anyway, is - don't stop buying Radio Times.

I haven't started - why pay good money (& kill trees) for something that's of very little use to me, since I don't watch TV?

[french frank]

The online advertising IS hopeless. If you weren't interested in the Simon Rattle Fest, why would you click on the page link in the first place, still less the Show More? It has the feel to me of a programme filler. Words and Music each evening is a repeat, no CotW, no In Tune, surely they could have found four hours between 2pm and 7.30pm at least one day to play the entire opera? It's as bad as R4's Hamlet in 5 episodes. For people who are only used to soap operas?