The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[Pulcinella]

French for cheeky-chappie!

Are you sure that he wasn't L'apprenti sorcier, dancing around with a broom?

[Roger Webb]

Are you sure that he wasn't L'apprenti sorcier, dancing around with a broom?

Or riding it, The Flying Saucier........as opposed to The Galloping Gourmet (Graham Kerr?)

[LMcD]

French for cheeky-chappie!

Nothing to do with Manon des Sources, then. (Probably my all-time favourite film together with Jean de Florette).

[Roger Webb]

Nothing to do with Manon des Sources, then. (Probably my all-time favourite film together with Jean de Florette).

Yes, mine too (amongst many other French films!)....have you seen Le Château de Ma Mère and La Gloire de Mon Père? Two other Marcel Pagnol stories made into charming films, this time by Yves Robert rather than Claude Berri.

[kernelbogey]

My first listen today since PT's departure. Was warming to T McK's style when he announced, I believe, 'a Haydn string quartet later'. Oh good, I thought, a change of policy....but no, just the first movement.

I wish presenters would not say 'a symphony' or 'a quartet' when talking up a later work but acknowledge that we're going to hear one movement.

[french frank]

Others will disagree but I feel presentation was much better when professional broadcasters (rather than musicians or other 'celebs') were backed up by knowledgeable production staff. No musician is equipped to talk knowledgeably about all the genres and sub-genres of the music covered by R3, nor are professional broadcasters. But I'm probably less susceptible to the personal charms of individual presenters ...

[LMcD]

Yes, mine too (amongst many other French films!)....have you seen Le Château de Ma Mère and La Gloire de Mon Père? Two other Marcel Pagnol stories made into charming films, this time by Yves Robert rather than Claude Berri.

I haven't seen the Yves Robert films, but will investigate, thank you.

[cloughie]

When I hear the word “re-imagine” I reach for the off button.

Re-imagined aka blagged!

[antongould]

Others will disagree but I feel presentation was much better when professional broadcasters (rather than musicians or other 'celebs') were backed up by knowledgeable production staff. No musician is equipped to talk knowledgeably about all the genres and sub-genres of the music covered by R3, nor are professional broadcasters. But I'm probably less susceptible to the personal charms of individual presenters ...

what is your definition of a professional broadcaster …… ???? A Skellers, a Georgia, an Alker …… ????

[Ein Heldenleben]

[QUOTE=french frank;n1335772]Others will disagree but I feel presentation was much better when professional broadcasters (rather than musicians or other 'celebs') were backed up by knowledgeable production staff. No musician is equipped to talk knowledgeably about all the genres and sub-genres of the music covered by R3, nor are professional broadcasters. But I'm probably less susceptible to the personal charms of individual presenters ... [/

In the old days the professional announcers (some of whom were graduate or conservatoire trained musos) generally read much shorter links between much longer pieces. Now there’s a mix of presenters some of whom like Tom McKinney, Andrew MacGregor , and Hannah French are definitely expert level. I have to say I prefer the modern presenters of today to the more formal days of yesteryear when it was evident that many announcers were reading from a producer’s script. It was often the case that phrases cropped up again - as if producers were copying from prepared blurbs on certain classic works. I don’t blame them if that was the case - some had massive workloads.
The really skilful element of the producers’ job was in supervising live broadcast and perhaps even more so recordings.Those were turned round really quickly with minimal time for the conductor or soloist to listen to playback. Listening for errors and spotting edit points - that struck me as quite high pressure.

[french frank]

what is your definition of a professional broadcaster …… ???? A Skellers, a Georgia, an Alker …… ????

A broadcaster who had had some sort of voice/delivery training (nothing to do with accent, RP or other). All I require(d) them to do is/was to tell me about the music that was to be played and then play it in full. In any one hour I wouldn't want to hear more than something like five or six pieces at most, so there would be very little for the presenter/announcer to do. I would think about them by their first name and family name only: Sarah Walker, Hannah French, Donald Macleod, not Sarah, Hannah, Donald, Skellers &c.

All of which explains why I don't listen any more : I'm quite resistant to routine and addiction .

[AuntDaisy]

A broadcaster who had had some sort of voice/delivery training (nothing to do with accent, RP or other). All I require(d) them to do is/was to tell me about the music that was to be played and then play it in full. In any one hour I wouldn't want to hear more than something like five or six pieces at most, so there would be very little for the presenter/announcer to do. I would think about them by their first name and family name only: Sarah Walker, Hannah French, Donald Macleod, not Sarah, Hannah, Donald, Skellers &c.

All of which explains why I don't listen any more : I'm quite resistant to routine and addiction .

'Fraid some non-Breakfast presenters are addictive - John Shea, Susan Sharpe, Catriona Young, Jonathan Swain, Penny Gore...

[vinteuil]

'Fraid some non-Breakfast presenters are addictive - John Shea, Susan Sharpe, Catriona Young, Jonathan Swain, Penny Gore...

... that's quite a civilized crew you have assembled there, AuntDaisy

[Roger Webb]

'Fraid some non-Breakfast presenters are addictive - John Shea, Susan Sharpe, Catriona Young, Jonathan Swain, Penny Gore...

You missed Paul Guinery!.....although his appearances are rare these days....too busy writing (his Delius and His Music was terrific) and playing the piano (Delius and his Circle CD on Stone Records).

[french frank]

... that's quite a civilized crew you have assembled there, AuntDaisy

And seldom get a mention here these days. Oh, wait ...

Yes, and Paul Guinery. Times, generations and tastes change but what we seem to lack is anchors (not in the broadcasting sense, but in the sense of the things inherently worth keeping rather than casting off). Rather like the moral compass so often absent in public - and private - life, though a bit less so here than there.