BBC Radio 3 in general

[Jamesay6]

Anyone else becoming bored or annoyed by the shift away from classical music and the embracing, plugging and increasing amount of jazz, folk music and crossovers into other genres? Feels like there’s a concerted effort underway to “broaden” or pull back from more “traditional” classical music.

[french frank]

Anyone else becoming bored or annoyed by the shift away from classical music and the embracing, plugging and increasing amount of jazz, folk music and crossovers into other genres? Feels like there’s a concerted effort underway to “broaden” or pull back from more “traditional” classical music.

Hello James - I guess you mean Radio 3 rather than (TV) BBC 3? You will find copious threads touching on those very points - some members will agree with you, others - may not. Best to dive in and see if there's a board or programme you would like to be more specific about

[hmvman]

Welcome to the forum, James. As ff has said there are plenty of discussions on the forum regarding the things you're concerned about. A good thread to start with is forum member suffolkcoastal's annual survey of classical music on R3:

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?24688-The-2022-Survey-of-Classical-Music-on-Radio-3

[James Wonnacott]

Anyone else becoming bored or annoyed by the shift away from classical music and the embracing, plugging and increasing amount of jazz, folk music and crossovers into other genres? Feels like there’s a concerted effort underway to “broaden” or pull back from more “traditional” classical music.

YES very annoyed
! It's been happening for a long time but the rate has increased of late. Also way to much chatter from "presenters" who sound like gabbling school girls.

[kernelbogey]

Don Giovanni - SCO/Mackerras 27.1.24

This was beautifully sung and played last night under Mackerras - but without an audience there was something missing for me in the performance. Not just the absence of applause, but perhaps that magic that happens in the theatre 'twixt cast and audience.
Edit: there's no Don Giovanni thread, so I chose this as the best option to post on.

[french frank]

Don Giovanni - SCO/Mackerras 27.1.24

This was beautifully sung and played last night under Mackerras - but without an audience there was something missing for me in the performance. Not just the absence of applause, but perhaps that magic that happens in the theatre 'twixt cast and audience.
Edit: there's no Don Giovanni thread, so I chose this as the best option to post on.

A Night at the Opera, maybe, rather than a gripe about R3 in general? Interesting. For me, I don't need an audience to add something to a performance. If anything they will intrude when I don't want them to, dispelling the illusion. I want to be inside the opera as it's happening rather than sitting in a seat with hundreds of others. A happening v. a performance?

[smittims]

As a lifelong lover of studio recording, I agree, and this is what others, e.g. John Culshaw were aiming at: the theatre of the mind. That said . Charles Mackerras was one of the few (Barbirolli and Beecham included) who could create the same intensity in an otherwise empty studio as before a Prom audience.

[kernelbogey]

A Night at the Opera, maybe, rather than a gripe about R3 in general? Interesting.

In the absence of any thread on Don Giovanni that I could find I chose this - though the OP doesn't seem to b about opera at all.

[QUOTE=french frank;n1297299]

For me, I don't need an audience to add something to a performance. If anything they will intrude when I don't want them to, dispelling the illusion. I want to be inside the opera as it's happening rather than sitting in a seat with hundreds of others. A happening v. a performance?

Well, I think I largely agree; just that, as I said, some extra magic seems to happen for the performers in front of an audience. I sense this quite a lot in TTN performances. (But it could just be me .)

[Kernow Malc]

Agree with original post - though I do like other genres (except Rap). They should be doing more of these things on their other stations in my view. Radio 2 used to have a good amount of classical -that was my introduction. The Pop scene is pretty worthless these days- so Radio 1 needs re-purposing. Local radio is a bland musical desert these days. They really need a good look at their output as a whole. I'd be happy to take the job on in my spare time. Should only take an hour or two to work out over coffee.

[kernelbogey]

...I'd be happy to take the job on in my spare time. Should only take an hour or two to work out over coffee.

[Stanfordian]

YES very annoyed
! It's been happening for a long time but the rate has increased of late. Also way to much chatter from "presenters" who sound like gabbling school girls.

What! Even the men?

Seriously Radio 3 has been changed beyond my scope. R3 might call it an eclectic mix. I call it a dog's breakfast.

[Serial_Apologist]

What! Even the men?

Seriously Radio 3 has been changed beyond my scope. R3 might call it an eclectic mix. I call it a dog's breakfast.

"And Mrs Barking from Doggingtown has just rung in to request 'How High the Moon' as sung by Ella Fitzroy-Square".

[Master Jacques]

"And Mrs Barking from Doggingtown has just rung in to request 'How High the Moon' as sung by Ella Fitzroy-Square".

"To be followed by Rhapsody in Blood and Wedding Day at the Internet Troll Haugen, neither of which we've heard recently - at least, not for an hour or so".

[edashtav]

Anyone else becoming bored or annoyed by the shift away from classical music and the embracing, plugging and increasing amount of jazz, folk music and crossovers into other genres? Feels like there’s a concerted effort underway to “broaden” or pull back from more “traditional” classical music.

Yes, I agree, James. The BBC Proms arrive soon. It has been stretched and distorted almost beyond its elastic limit. We must listen in and protect what is left.

[Serial_Apologist]

"To be followed by Rhapsody in Blood and Wedding Day at the Internet Troll Haugen, neither of which we've heard recently - at least, not for an hour or so".