BBC Young Musician of the Year Finals - BBC Four

[Quarky]

With all due deference to the music profession that will have the final word on this competition, it was obvious to me at the outset who was going to win.

The cellist had a remarkable and unshakeable composure, whereas the recorderist(?) seemed some what unsettled. I gather she was in the middle of exams and the next day (today) had another exam. That's a hell of a lot of pressure to put on a young teenager. What a pity there was no flexibility in the system to spread out these important events.

[Mr Pee]

Ah well, maybe they'll ask you to be on the panel next time.

Why not? I'm sure HS would make an excellent judge, with all his years of professional experience.

With all due reference to the music profession that will have the final word on this competition, it was obvious to me at the outset who was going to win.

The cellist had a remarkable and unshakeable composure, whereas the recorderist(?) seemed some what unsettled. I gather she was in the middle of exams and the next day (today) had another exam. That's a hell of a lot of pressure to put on a young teenager. What a pity there was no flexibilty in the system to spread out these important events.

Yes, apparently the young lady has a GCSE exam today. It seems odd that the BBC didn't take such things into account when scheduling the competition.

However I was intensely irritated by the bellowing, hyperventilating, adjectival verbosity of CB-H who crashed in a nano-second after each soloist to tell us what a stupendous performance we had just heard. Thanks for letting us know CB-H but I think we can make up our minds. And the inane backstage interview immediately after each performance. I turned to Mrs B-o-D and said: "I know just what she is going to ask." And on cue she did:
"What a stunning performance! How do you feel?"

Agree completely. I thought that the backstage interviewer- (Who was she? Did she have any musical background at all?)- summed up the whole inane, gushing presentational style when she was asked who she thought should win and replied ""All of them." <D'Oh!>

[verismissimo]

Excrutiatingly out of tune.

It seemed to me that her recorder was basically not in tune with the band. Such a shame. She had been terrific previously.

Inpired by Laura's fine playing, I listened this morning to Piatigorsky in the Walton - first UK performance with Sargent in 1957. One of his best pieces IMO.

[amateur51]

It seemed to me that her recorder was basically not in tune with the band. Such a shame. She had been terrific previously.

Inpired by Laura's fine playing, I listened this morning to Piatigorsky in the Walton - first UK performance with Sargent in 1957. One of his best pieces IMO.

Here they are 'live' from the RFH in 1957

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_xHZQ8hcxE

[french frank]

Guy Johnston's quite a well known cellist, isn't he? He was one of the judges for the final.

Not quite well-known enough for the BBC to spell his name correctly - but, yes, a former winner of the competition. I thought the string breaking episode in the final(?) had gone down in the competition history?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2001/jul/13/artsfeatures.proms20011

[amateur51]

Not quite well-known enough for the BBC to spell his name correctly - but, yes, a former winner of the competition. I thought the string breaking episode in the final(?) had gone down in the competition history?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/20...res.proms20011

Thanks for 'breaking' the thought that I knew his face & his name, french frank - I now know why!

[Flosshilde]

Yes, apparently the young lady has a GCSE exam today. It seems odd that the BBC didn't take such things into account when scheduling the competition.<D'Oh!>

One of those rare, once in a blue moon, instances when I agree with Mr Pee.

[french frank]

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.

Done. Thank you for noticing.

[DracoM]

The Walton allowed her to exploit almost every aspect of cello playing. Whether she got to its core is another, and pretty subjective matter. Were they judges looking at that? Or merely at technical competence and the capacity to have A view of the piece?

Actually, I loathe Walton in most aspects, BUT in this case, it gave her [see above] - and the orchestra who I thought played fantastically well throughout and were well conducted - plenty of opportunity. Also, it was maybe the biggest scale piece any of the finalists played, including the Grieg??

[agingjb]

The program has always used concertos as the genre that the finalists must perform. Is there a case for keeping to the sonatas of the previous rounds?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i do think that Charlotte Barbour-Condini achieved something remarkable in getting her instrument to the final

that her pitch was off and she was less at ease than she had been in both the Category Final and Semi Final does not matter too much - she is a truly remarkable young musician and i hope to hear much more of her wonderful playing in the coming years

however many contestants are likely facing exams given their ages and it does make the BBC pretty dumb to schedule it at this time of year

as to the presenting it was par for the BBC but the shouting by CBP was really unpalatable


the right one won to my ears .... an entrancing performance

the programme could have such a positive impact far more than it presently achieves if the BBC could rediscover that deftness of positioning and presentation it possessed under Greene

[MrGongGong]

As someone who frequently works on music projects with young people I would say that
It's ALWAYS the "wrong" time of year, there are always things that "get in the way"
many of us have given up trying to schedule things to "fit in" with school timetables etc

Some people are keen and enthusiastic
some are looking for reasons NOT to do things

it matters little WHEN you organise things

[amateur51]

As someone who frequently works on music projects with young people I would say that
It's ALWAYS the "wrong" time of year, there are always things that "get in the way"
many of us have given up trying to schedule things to "fit in" with school timetables etc

Some people are keen and enthusiastic
some are looking for reasons NOT to do things

it matters little WHEN you organise things

As someone who went through the annual torture of exams scheduled during the peak hay fever season but survived I agree with you Mr GG

[aeolium]

the programme could have such a positive impact far more than it presently achieves if the BBC could rediscover that deftness of positioning and presentation it possessed under Greene

I completely agree, Calum. Some of the earlier programmes were barely watchable due to the awful presentation and production priorities. When will the BBC realise that the currency of praise is massively devalued by the tsunami of hyperbole that now washes over virtually all their programmes? Like advertisers and politicians, BBC presenters are just ignored when they come out with a stream of now meaningless adjectives. It makes you long for a single judicious comment.

[amateur51]

I completely agree, Calum. Some of the earlier programmes were barely watchable due to the awful presentation and production priorities. When will the BBC realise that the currency of praise is massively devalued by the tsunami of hyperbole that now washes over virtually all their programmes? Like advertisers and politicians, BBC presenters are just ignored when they come out with a stream of now meaningless adjectives. It makes you long for a single judicious comment.

Lovely stuff aeolium