Christmas Around Europe

[oddoneout]

Aaaargh - adverts! It's bad enough to have the one o clock news, but hourly adverts crashing in....
What is it with these cretins? Continues assumption that no-one listens to programmes as they are broadcast? I do have a mute button on the remote but as I quickly discovered it is very limited directionally and distance-wise, so it only saves me from having to get up and take action if I'm sitting in the right place.

[Frances_iom]

Aaaargh - adverts! It's bad enough to have the one o clock news, but hourly adverts crashing in....
What is it with these cretins? ....

Nothing cretinous about it - quite deliberate audience selection mechanism - as is obvious from much of the beeb's current output they only want numbers not attentive listeners, too many of whom are wont to complain - thus get rid of those unwanted awkward and more demanding listeners.

[gurnemanz]

Aaaargh - adverts! It's bad enough to have the one o clock news, but hourly adverts crashing in....
What is it with these cretins? Continues assumption that no-one listens to programmes as they are broadcast? I do have a mute button on the remote but as I quickly discovered it is very limited directionally and distance-wise, so it only saves me from htaving to get up and take action if I'm sitting in the right place.

Programme plugs can be a mild irritant but are not something I get that worked up about. At least we don't have actual adverts as on commercial stations. The use of the word "cretins" jars with me and detracts from the point being made.

[cloughie]

Aaaargh - adverts! It's bad enough to have the one o clock news, but hourly adverts crashing in....
What is it with these cretins? Continues assumption that no-one listens to programmes as they are broadcast? I do have a mute button on the remote but as I quickly discovered it is very limited directionally and distance-wise, so it only saves me from having to get up and take action if I'm sitting in the right place.

…and I bet they’ve all got the jangly sleigh bells on them!

[oddoneout]

…and I bet they’ve all got the jangly sleigh bells on them!

Fortunately not in evidence as yet - but that may come in the next couple of days in the build up to the big day.

[oddoneout]

Programme plugs can be a mild irritant but are not something I get that worked up about. At least we don't have actual adverts as on commercial stations. The use of the word "cretins" jars with me and detracts from the point being made.

I'm sorry if my use of cretins jars - I was particularly irritable at that stage, and I don't regard the intrusions as an intelligent thing to do, but yes it probably shouldn't be in my vocabulary these days.
The distinction between commercial and self promotion isn't that clear when the same thing occurs at frequent intervals day after day, and doesn't become less irritating on the umpteenth hearing, or the repeated times such things crash into and break the mood of what has just been played - the hazard of being a "live " listener.

[Nick Armstrong]

Looking forward to this . Shame it isn’t on a Saturday as it would take out a lot of afternoon Radio 3 fare that normally has me reaching for Qobuz. But this is usually excellent …the best antidote to a certain Carol competition imaginable.

Variable, as usual. The Greek segment wasn’t much cop and was rapidly switched off… but the music & performances from Sweden were an absolute treat

[Ein Heldenleben]

Variable, as usual. The Greek segment wasn’t much cop and was rapidly switched off… but the music & performances from Sweden were an absolute treat

This Danish National Ensemble are top notch with some lovely crystal clear soprano singing and well moderated vibrato. Good English diction …

[daktari]

I always enjoy the EBU day(s) and especially for being (ideally live) connected to, for me at least, somewhat exotic locations. I very much enjoyed the contributions from Leipzig, Riga and Copenhagen, although the current hour from Berlin made me wonder what was Christmassy about the choice of repertoire (even the cantata BWV 51 is written for ogni tempo). One or two previous editions have resulted in unique BBC Music Magazine cover cds.

[Nick Armstrong]

This Danish National Ensemble are top notch with some lovely crystal clear soprano singing and well moderated vibrato. Good English diction …

The Swedish singers were good too

[oddoneout]

I always enjoy the EBU day(s) and especially for being (ideally live) connected to, for me at least, somewhat exotic locations. I very much enjoyed the contributions from Leipzig, Riga and Copenhagen, although the current hour from Berlin made me wonder what was Christmassy about the choice of repertoire (even the cantata BWV 51 is written for ogni tempo). One or two previous editions have resulted in unique BBC Music Magazine cover cds.

I found one such (1994) in a charity shop earlier this year and have dusted it down for the festive period. I passed on the Messiaen organ piece, but the rest was most enjoyable.
I've just seen that a "Music Played" list has appeared, which doesn't relate to the individual countries' contributions (no playlists for those after 4pm- if you don't hear the intros or recognise the pieces then tough) but seems to be the fillers between the slots.
Agree with Helden about the Danish ensemble - those Ding Dong Glorias were quite a tour de force.

[antongould]

Is Canada in Europe … is this the work of Liz Trusss …. ????

[oddoneout]

Is Canada in Europe … is this the work of Liz Trusss …. ????

They speak French don't they?
It's not the first time they've been part of this, but I imagine it's to do with membership of EBU rather than geographical considerations, as per https://www.ebu.ch/about/members/admission

[Barbirollians]

They speak French don't they?
It's not the first time they've been part of this, but I imagine it's to do with membership of EBU rather than geographical considerations, as per https://www.ebu.ch/about/members/admission

I am scandalised - surely taking back control - meant we would have had been saved from all these Europeans singing .