Opera across the BBC

[Richard Tarleton]

Or Amanda Vickery, who has already co-presented (rather well) Music/History programmes for BBC4 (Messiah at the Foundling Hospital and Leningrad). Perhaps a female presenter with a Northern accent was just one step too much "diversity" for the Beeb?

There again, I would have preferred the Corporation to have taken heed of Mary Beard's urging (Leave TV History to the experts) and had Papano co-present with a specialist Music academic.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...ary-Beard.html

I'm sure we'll be seeing Amanda Vickery again, she was excellent.

OT, not quite sure if the problem Mary Beard is describing actually exists, there's a plethora of expert TV historians, zoologists, art experts etc. presenting these days. But yes, somewhere there's a musicological equivalent of Ms Beard or or D Attenborough waiting to be given their opportunity. Joanna Lumley whom MB cites does travel programmes for which you don't have to be an expert. Having said which, it's not enough to be an expert - think Open University broadcasts in the old days - the expert also has to be a skilled presenter, the medium is immensely sophisiticated these days. And as the late AA Gill said, television is a very lookist medium.

[underthecountertenor]

With a guest who is the 'expert' you need someone who will bring out the best in him/her rather than someone with a deep knowledge of classical music.

Although, as Richard Tarleton implies above, I don't think anyone would have to work too hard to bring out the best in AP.

[french frank]

Although, as Richard Tarleton implies above, I don't think anyone would have to work too hard to bring out the best in AP.

And some 'experts' are themselves natural broadcasters, in which case who needs a 'go-between'?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And some 'experts' are themselves natural broadcasters, in which case who needs a 'go-between'?

I suppose it depends on the format of the programme - the Vickery/Service documentaries made very clear differences between the Musical aspects of the works in question (Service) and the Socio-Political motivations behind them (Vickery); in other words, areas of expertise were demarcated and co-ordinated - rather well, in both these instances.

[LHC]

Really? Opera broadcasts on radio, but no TV coverage mentioned - no change there. A TV documentary series with Antony Papano - but also with Lucy Worsley, so probably no better than Papano's (very good) series on Singers last year. The only possible glimpse of a change is that "further programming" will feature on BBC4 - which, I hope will include broadcasts of full operas.

I fear that the mention of BBC arts means that any complete operas will be relegated to the iPlayer and be available online only. I suspect the BBC see this as a perfect option; it allows them to claim they are meeting their commitment to show more 'highbrow' content, without having to bump any of their cookery and antiques shows from the TV schedules.

[french frank]

I fear that the mention of BBC arts means that any complete operas will be relegated to the iPlayer

I can't contradict that, but is there any evidence to suggest it? BBC Arts and BBC Music are only divisions (as I understand it) to coordinate programmes across all services. I took the Arts involvement to be connected with the V&A exhibition which the BBC season will coincide with. So far they have only announced that programming on BBC Four will be announced at a later date.

That said, BBC television does seem to prefer programmes about classical music, rather than performances - unlike popular music which monopilised BBC Four on the two previous "BBC Music Days".

They will also be 'showcasing some of the finest operatic work across the UK today and re-surfacing treasures from the BBC archive'.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I fear that the mention of BBC arts means that any complete operas will be relegated to the iPlayer and be available online only. I suspect the BBC see this as a perfect option; it allows them to claim they are meeting their commitment to show more 'highbrow' content, without having to bump any of their cookery and antiques shows from the TV schedules.

My fear, too - although, in fairness, I should point out that cookery and antiques programmes don't feature on BBC4.

That channel is reserved for repeats of The Good Old Days.

frenchie, the "evidence" (I'd say the factor that makes me wonder if this will turn out to be the case) for full operas being reserved for the i-Player is that this is precisely what happened with the magnificent Opera North Ring cycle: Rheingold broadcast in full, the remainder just on the i-Player. (In a sort of compensation, the tetralogy is still available - and will remain so for another four months.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

They will also be 'showcasing some of the finest operatic work across the UK today and re-surfacing treasures from the BBC archive'.

To which the only reply must be "Ta, Mac"?

[french frank]

frenchie, the "evidence" (I'd say the factor that makes me wonder if this will turn out to be the case) for full operas being reserved for the i-Player is that this is precisely what happened with the magnificent Opera North Ring cycle: Rheingold broadcast in full, the remainder just on the i-Player.

Well, Mr Fernhoff - it's the kind of issue I would once have been querying with BBC, in an accusing tone, on behalf of those preferring to view the operas on the tele-vision (and in particular those who have not the technical wherewithal wherewith to do so on the iPlayer).

(Ta, Mac! Almost worth bringing back the emoji for. )

[beacon]

If anything could turn me off, it is Lucy Worsley. Although often I would like to have the information, I simply want to slap that smirking face and switch off. Programmes like this, as I have argued for years, don't need a presenter. The BBC are simply unable to understand that their audiences may want to be informed without the need to have a 'celebrity' alongside, supposedly to give it 'oomph'. Pappano would be perfectly capable of delivering the goods on his own. I think those old enough to remember the Bernstein lectures will agree that they were compulsive, without the need for gimmicks.

[french frank]

If anything could turn me off, it is Lucy Worsley. Although often I would like to have the information, I simply want to slap that smirking face and switch off. Programmes like this, as I have argued for years, don't need a presenter. The BBC are simply unable to understand that their audiences may want to be informed without the need to have a 'celebrity' alongside, supposedly to give it 'oomph'. Pappano would be perfectly capable of delivering the goods on his own. I think those old enough to remember the Bernstein lectures will agree that they were compulsive, without the need for gimmicks.

That is the point, isn't it? Not whether Viewer A wishes to 'slap her smirking face' while another finds her a serious historian. The question is whether a presenter is needed as an intermediary between the audience and the main contributor, whether artist, performer, specialist.

I was a little taken aback to see how many posed photo portraits there were on Google images (almost rivals CBH), and that does make me query whether the BBC's building up of personalities is really necessary when it goes to the point of the public sighing, 'Oh, no. Not XXX again.' Presenters are considered (by the BBC - and I suppose they have evidence), on balance, 'draws' to particular programmes.