Should BBC presenters express judgements on the performance?

[LeMartinPecheur]

I think we must now face the fact that the old Radio 3 (or Third Programme as I still call it) is gone forever. Nothing can ever bring it back, so there is little point in flogging a dead horse or shutting the stable door.

Personally I have not tuned in for over a year.

Let cultured people seek elsewhere, and they will surely find.

Sydney: couldn't this reflect a change in you personally? OK, daytime R3 has changed a lot lately - and I agree for the worse - but have evening concerts (including Proms) really changed that much in musical content or quality?

OK, the presentation can be annoying, but the music is still there surely?

I don't criticise anyone for changes in personal tastes - as one gets older I guess another Eroica or even Mahler 6 has to work harder to cross the 'must hear' barrier, but surely it is unfair to criticise R3 for one's own inevitable personal changes?

[french frank]

Rob Cowan said something interesting in his chat with J Trollope this morning - something like "The strongest love is shown by being a stern critic".

Ooh, I wish I had that quote exactly

I feel perhaps the admission that presentation is so inadequate but the music is still very good ignores the fact that what one wants from Radio 3 is Music Plus (because Radio 3 has a duty to educate as well as entertain). If ALL you want is music, there are other sources, some of them quite good - like going to live concerts, or putting on a CD.

[edashtav]

I would expect the presenter's comment to be limited to such observations as "... well, the audience enjoyed that ..." or " ... the conductor acknowledging the applause for that performance of ..."

So, describe what is happening for those who are not there to see for themselves, but leave all personal opinions, whether pro or anti, out.

In other words, let the listener decide on the merits or otherwise of a concert for him/her self.

HS

"Hear, Hear", says another with musical roots in Bournemouth.

[cloughie]

Ooh, I wish I had that quote exactly

I feel perhaps the admission that presentation is so inadequate but the music is still very good ignores the fact that what one wants from Radio 3 is Music Plus (because Radio 3 has a duty to educate as well as entertain). If ALL you want is music, there are other sources, some of them quite good - like going to live concerts, or putting on a CD.

Good point ff and maybe it comes down to who you want invite into your home to talk about it.

[french frank]

Good point ff and maybe it comes down to who you want invite into your home to talk about it.

It's all quite subtle, and it may be no more than what we've grown up with. Concerts, it seems to me, should as far as possible create the flavour of a live concert experience. At one time on Radio 3 they talked of 'introducing' the concert, not presenting (or announcing). They are the 'eyes' of the listeners and keep them au courant with what's going on, filling in with relevant information when needed. Nothing to take the attention away from the performance, the performers or the music. To me, when a presenter - or guest - starts giving out personal opinions, it diverts the attention and becomes about them (why do you think that? are you qualified to judge? I don't think you're right).

A CD programme is quite different because there's no ambient atmosphere to preserve between the pieces. But if it's a regular programme there is an impression (correct or not) that the presenter has specially chosen these works and is the person to give the background. But they do need to create the impression that they are sharing their fund of knowledge, not that they've done a few minutes research on the internet or been told what to say by the producer. With a savvy audience they can't get away with rubbish.

I don't understand why Radio 3 has it down is black and white as a stated aim that they will give a range of people - presenters, guests, listeners - the chance to share their personal feelings. Why (I wonder) is that so important - especially when the presenter/guest/listener has little knowledge about the subject?

[Frances_iom]

...Why (I wonder) is that so important - especially when the presenter/guest/listener has little knowledge about the subject?

it's part of the education system - as Carroll in Alice says at the end of the caucus race "At last the Dodo said, 'everybody has won, and all must have prizes.'" - likewise everybody's opinion is of equal merit and should be treated without any inquiry as to the judgement needed - SMP is a prime example a prime twitter user which use actually often subtracts from the ambiance as well as indicating to me that something is amiss with her judgement - at least the Dodo made an 'intelligent' comment on the stupidity of the system.

[Vile Consort]

With a savvy audience they can't get away with rubbish.

Hence the need to drive away savvy listeners.

[Black Swan]

I find the quote interesting, unfortunately, I missed it as I don't listen to R3 shows that RC presents because I can't stomach his blather. I don't find him a stern critic just verbose and enamored of his own voice.

John

[cloughie]

I find the quote interesting, unfortunately, I missed it as I don't listen to R3 shows that RC presents because I can't stomach his blather. I don't find him a stern critic just verbose and enamored of his own voice.

John

I feel that so many people have got Rob wrong - he's a music addict - and I'd really enjoy a chat in the pub over a glass of Betty Stoggs.

[Nick Armstrong]

I feel that so many people have got Rob wrong - he's a music addict - and I'd really enjoy a chat in the pub over a glass of Betty Stoggs.

I totally agree (though I'd choose something other to drink... not that I know who or what Betty Stoggs is )

[cloughie]

I totally agree (though I'd choose something other to drink... not that I know who or what Betty Stoggs is )

Sharp's Bitter, brewed in Truro!

[LeMartinPecheur]

Sharp's Bitter??? Skinners if you please!

Betty Stoggs is a ravishing Cornish maid http://www.skinnersbrewery.com/beers.php with whom I was desparately in love...until I discovered that the brewery's 3-dimensional animated effigy of her perfect form is usually constructed round a MAN

[Tom Adustus]

When did you last hear a R3 Announcer at the end of a live performance say something along the lines of "Well that was rather poor"?

[french frank]

I've just watched the BBC Four broadcast of the RVW Prom and interestingly not a single comment was passed about the performance or the rapturous reception. Not that it was needed.

I suppose radio presenters feel they have to say something since there are no pictures to keep the audience anchored to the broadcast. I don't think any presenter should ever say "Well that was rather poor". I think that would be an abuse of their position speaking to thousands of people (millions on television). On the other hand to have the radio presenter praising something as 'great' when elsewhere it's described as 'crass' and a 'shocker' just makes them look a bittie under competent.

[Barbirollians]

No comments on the quality of the performance from I think Louise Fryer on the Sao Paulo concert . I thought the presentation of the announcer that night was exemplary.