Europa Concert on BBC 4

[johnb]

I've not yet watched the concert but I wonder whether Rattle was getting at something slightly different.

Most classical guitarists spend almost all their time practising and playing solo repertoire and comparatively little playing chamber music, so they often develop a rhythmic freedom which can mean that some of them have problems with timing and pulse, etc, when having to perform with, say, an orchestra.

[Ariosto]

Oh that's made me chuckle a treat, Mr Osto or may I call you Ari?

Is nurse trying a new combination of meds?

No, but she just climbed into bed with me ...

[silvestrione]

May I politely suggest that the whining whingeing Rattle-haters establish their own forum site where they can enjoy themselves?

[Nick Armstrong]

May I politely suggest that the whining whingeing Rattle-haters establish their own forum site where they can enjoy themselves?

So why should they be excluded then?

[Ariosto]

So why should they be excluded then?

I was going to ignore silvestrione's outburst, Caliban, but I have to agree with you. If we can't make critical comments about a conductor then what's the point of a forum?

And if Mr/Ms Silvestrione considers some of us to be Rattle-haters then that in itself shows that he/she is taking an extreme view, as I'm not aware that anyone on here hates Simon Rattle. In my case, I just dislike his method of stick waving, and the results eminating from such a method.

I see that Mr/Ms silvestrione may be a relatively new boy/girl on the block so maybe we should make allowances for his/her inexperience?

[Nick Armstrong]

I was going to ignore silvestrione's outburst, Caliban, but I have to agree with you. If we can't make critical comments about a conductor then what's the point of a forum?

And if Mr/Ms Silvestrione considers some of us to be Rattle-haters then that in itself shows that he/she is taking an extreme view, as I'm not aware that anyone on here hates Simon Rattle. In my case, I just dislike his method of stick waving, and the results eminating from such a method.

I see that Mr/Ms silvestrione may be a relatively new boy/girl on the block so maybe we should make allowances for his/her inexperience?

True. I was just interested. I wonder if Mr/Ms Silvestrione just likes everything and everyone indiscriminately.

[Alf-Prufrock]

I don't know why untruths have to creep in among the comments of the usual suspects in this kind of thread. I have seen two concerts of the BPO under Sir Simon recently (since this correspondence started), and there was a VAST amount of looking at the conductor in both.

[Norfolk Born]

If people are going to be criticized for 'pulling faces', I would start with the soloist in the Rodrigo. Compared with him, Sir Simon was a model of facial muscle control!

[BBMmk2]

Rather like Lang Lang's!!

Everyoine is entitled to their opinions though. I don't think we are living in a Police State just yet!!

[Ariosto]

Quite right, Brassbandmaestro!!

Why all the fuss anyway, we are only talking about conductors? It's not as if we are talking about something or someone very important. Just a load of stick wavers. In other words, failed instrumentalists or purely academic musicians who have only one claim to fame in that they can (should, possibly be able to) read a score ...

[BBMmk2]

That reminds me of what Nigel kennedy said at this year's Proms!!

[Ariosto]

That reminds me of what Nigel kennedy said at this year's Proms!!

And I think he was dead right!

He seems to have upset the establishment quite a lot (more) with his comments about HIP and conductors.

Keep up the good work, Nige!!