BBC Young Musician of the Year Finals - BBC Four

[RobertLeDiable]

I must say, having just watched the final, I wasn't that impressed. The Walton was a poor choice of concerto for that girl. She didn't really get anywhere near it in terms of the intensity it needs, though that's not really her fault. Her teacher shouldn't have let her play it - but then she won, so what do I know.

There now seems to be a ban on anyone over 35 appearing in that final, whether on the presenting team or the jury. And an absolute ban on the 'experts' saying anything even slightly critical. What a gush-fest.

[Mr Pee]

I must say, having just watched the final, I wasn't that impressed. The Walton was a poor choice of concerto for that girl. She didn't really get anywhere near it in terms of the intensity it needs, though that's not really her fault. Her teacher shouldn't have let her play it - but then she won, so what do I know.

There now seems to be a ban on anyone over 35 appearing in that final, whether on the presenting team or the jury. And an absolute ban on the 'experts' saying anything even slightly critical. What a gush-fest.

I do agree. The cellist rightly won tonight, but it wasn't a vintage final. And as for the presentational style, I also agree- I don't know who those two were with CBH, or who the other presenter was doing the backstage interviews- or whether she had any musical knowledge whatsoever; but they all seemed to be chosen as much on looks as anything else. And a little constructive criticism wouldn't have gone amiss, rather than insisting that every performance was the greatest in the history of classical music.

I really hope the BBC rethink their approach to Young Musician before the next contest, but I fear it will just get worse rather than better.

[Mary Chambers]

I must say, having just watched the final, I wasn't that impressed. The Walton was a poor choice of concerto for that girl. She didn't really get anywhere near it in terms of the intensity it needs, though that's not really her fault. Her teacher shouldn't have let her play it - but then she won, so what do I know.

There now seems to be a ban on anyone over 35 appearing in that final, whether on the presenting team or the jury. And an absolute ban on the 'experts' saying anything even slightly critical. What a gush-fest.

She was by far the best, I thought.

I think Paul Lewis is over 35! Just.

[Hornspieler]

I must say, having just watched the final, I wasn't that impressed. The Walton was a poor choice of concerto for that girl. She didn't really get anywhere near it in terms of the intensity it needs, though that's not really her fault. Her teacher shouldn't have let her play it - but then she won, so what do I know.

There now seems to be a ban on anyone over 35 appearing in that final, whether on the presenting team or the jury. And an absolute ban on the 'experts' saying anything even slightly critical. What a gush-fest.

For "Experts" read "Enthusiasts". Not the same thing at all.

My own impression was that the pianist had been coached how to play every note, rather than being inspired by the music and the occasion itself. Technically brilliant, but I couldn't help feeling that every time he plays that concerto, his interpretation (if it is his own interpretation), would be exactly the same.

The winner is a natural musician. She becomes a part of her instrument and the cello becomes an extension of herself.

HS

[Barbirollians]

BBC Young Musician of the Year Final

What a terrific performance by the cellist Laura van der Hagen of the Walton Cello Concerto . She is an astonishingly mature artist . I missed the recorder player but I thought she knocked the technically brilliant but mannered pianist into a cocked hat

[Alison]

Yes a thoroughly deserved victory.

Delighted to see the two ladies receive the Walter todd consolation prizes too.

The above would my best three of the competiton.

[Barbirollians]

I missed the percussionist but I agree about the young violinist I thought she was a certainty for the final until Laura came along

[RobertLeDiable]

I agree about the pianist. Perhaps this wasn't a vintage year. It seems unfair to criticise a 15-year-old musician, but if we think about the young string players that are really making it as international soloists, then the cellist was not on that sort of level. She was musical, yes, and expressive up to a point, but the Walton is very hard to bring off and she was far too 'contained' in her playing. It has to be taken by the scruff of the neck and she didn't communicate. There wasn't nearly enough intensity. Mind you, I didn't think the 2010 winner - Laura the pianist who played the Rachmaninov tonight - was that memorable either.

[Mr Pee]

What a terrific performance by the cellist Laura van der Hagen of the Walton Cello Concerto . She is an astonishingly mature artist . I missed the recorder player but I thought she knocked the technically brilliant but mannered pianist into a cocked hat

It was a very good performance, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it terrific. I thought she was the best of the three finalists, but I didn't think that this was a vintage final. The pianist seemed terribly mechanical, and the recorder player- well, I'm sorry, but the recorder just doesn't excite me as instrument, however fine the player.

As for the presentation- the universal gushing praise from the CBH and the two blokes with her- (who were they?)- was really over the top. There's nothing wrong with a bit of contsructive criticism. I seem to remember before YM targeted an audience with the attention span of a mosquito, that the presenters would comment on the performances, offering criticism where it was justified. Tonight every performance was apparently the greatest in recorded history.

[Barbirollians]

Ah well you should have been listening to Radio 3 where Nicholas Daniel did criticise the pianist .
I don't agree about the cellist. I think she is as good as Natalie Clein was when she won if not better.

[Hornspieler]

What a terrific performance by the cellist Laura van der Hagen of the Walton Cello Concerto . She is an astonishingly mature artist . I missed the recorder player but I thought she knocked the technically brilliant but mannered pianist into a cocked hat

Messages 9 to 13 on the "semi final" on Platform3 actually refer to the YMOTY final, transmitted tonight.

Would it be a good idea to transfer those posts to this thread? FF please comment.

[Alison]

Laura's musicality and magnetism readily outshone the previous winner IMHO.

Perhaps not a vintage final but an outstanding player has surely emerged.

[rodney_h_d]

.....I don't agree about the cellist.....

Nor do I! I don't know what instruments Mr Pee has played but I would have thought that most string players would have found her playing to be of a very high order!

[MrGongGong]

Nor do I! I don't know what instruments Mr Pee has played but I would have thought that most string players would have found her playing to be of a very high order!

Didn't mr P play in a band with John Williams, Herbie Flowers and Tristan Fry ?

[Hornspieler]

It was a very good performance, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it terrific. I thought she was the best of the three finalists, but I didn't think that this was a vintage final. The pianist seemed terribly mechanical, and the recorder player- well, I'm sorry, but the recorder just doesn't excite me as instrument, however fine the player.

As for the presentation- the universal gushing praise from the CBH and the two blokes with her- (who were they?)- was really over the top. There's nothing wrong with a bit of contsructive criticism. I seem to remember before YM targeted an audience with the attention span of a mosquito, that the presenters would comment on the performances, offering criticism where it was justified. Tonight every performance was apparently the greatest in recorded history.

I totally agree with this comment, Mr Pee.
Regarding the final itself, how on earth did that recorder player win the woodwind section and then get through the semi final? Excrutiatingly out of tune. No evidence to me of any musicianship or musical phrasing.

Just novelty value, I suppose, but what the decision says about the judges sums up the whole contest for me.

Wanabe experts judging wanabe virtuosi.

HS