The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[CallMePaul]

Playlist says Tito Gobbi. If it was the EMI recording with Callas and di Stefano, he might have been lurking in the background …

A centenary tribute to one of last century's greatest baritones should have featured him as the solo artist. As I recall, the sound was too good for a mid-50s recording. No details of orchestra or conductor were given and all I can say is that the voice did not sound like Pavarotti or Di Stefano. On the assumption that a R3 presenter is not musically illiterate I would have expected Victoria Meakin to query this item with her producer. I have seriously considered a formal complaint about this item but I suspect that the BBC would brush this under the carpet and supply a stock answer plucked from a computer by someone who could not tell Tito Gobbi from Elvis Presley!

[french frank]

I would have expected Victoria Meakin to query this item with her producer.

Yes, your point was entirely appreciated - I just didn't happen to hear it.

Victoria Meakin is a weekend bussed-in presenter from other parts of BBC radio (actually, I suppose, a freelance who takes what she's offered). She it was who pronounced Boulez as Boolay - so take it from there.

[antongould]

Stop fretting all we have Skellers tomorrow. ....

[vinteuil]

... ah, that old problem - a gun with just one bullet.

Victoria Meakin or Tom McKinney?

(... other presenters are, of course, available.)

[Black Swan]

... ah, that old problem - a gun with just one bullet.

Victoria Meakin or Tom McKinney?

(... other presenters are, of course, available.)

Well a very interesting situation.... I think I know what I would do....

[ahinton]

Victoria Meakin is a weekend bussed-in presenter from other parts of BBC radio (actually, I suppose, a freelance who takes what she's offered). She it was who pronounced Boulez as Boolay - so take it from there.

Ah, yes - Patti Boulaye; indistinguishable from Pete, as we all know...

[Nick Armstrong]

Ah, yes - Patti Boulaye; indistinguishable from Pete, as we all know...

Oh yes... separated at birth!

[Old Grumpy]

I know it's early in the morning and only Rumpole and the larks are about but did Tree Lawn just say we have Skellers all next week?

Indeed - and long may he reign!

OG

[Black Swan]

Indeed - and long may he reign!

OG

I totally agree. I am not working this week and was so pleasantly surprised to turn on R3 and hear Skellars and not the twittering of one of the other normal morning hosts.

[antongould]

I totally agree. I am not working this week and was so pleasantly surprised to turn on R3 and hear Skellars and not the twittering of one of the other normal morning hosts.

..... I, obviously, agree .....

[cloughie]

Oh yes... separated at birth!

Sure it wasn't Patti Labelle - surely would be more in keeping to lay de marmalade on de toast at breakfast!

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Did nobody else motice the massive boob made this morning by Victoria Meakin? She played a recording of La Donna e Mobile from Rigoletto and claimed it was by Tito Gobbi! OK he was born 100 years ago today as she stated, but he would never have sung a tenor aria - not in public anyway! How do BBC producers get away with this? Gobbi, of course, was a baritone and [I]La Donna e Mobile/I] is one of the main tenor showpieces in Italian opera! Someone needs shooting!

In addition she pronounced his name as Gobi (to rhyme with Toby) at the start of Saturday's programme.

On Sunday, before she played Gobbi's Largo al Factotum, she said that she had "accidentally" played the wrong track the previous day, no attempt at an apology. In a way this was worse than the original mistake.

[Nick Armstrong]

I know it's early in the morning and only Rumpole and the larks are about

I'm watching you, anton...

Having a lie-in?

[antongould]

I'm watching you, anton...

Having a lie-in?

This is becoming a bit scary Rumpole - waiting for your Music Box selection to be played by the Great Man are you?

[antongould]

I'm watching you, anton...

Having a lie-in?

One presumes this is one of your, very rare, early starts to discuss Joint Enterprise with Perry Mason ......