Sean: a Celebration

[Quarky]

This?

https://keeplongwave.co.uk/

A very interesting account of the history of the Droitwich Transmitter - at least I found it as such.:

https://hackaday.com/2023/09/13/portrait-of-a-long-wave-station-in-its-twilight-years/

About 10 minutes in to the video, there is an explanation of the issue with the giant valve amplifiers.

[hmvman]

I've never been a regular listener to 'In Tune' but on the odd occasions when I did hear it Sean R struck me as personable, if rather verbose, and I appreciate, from others' comments here that he was knowledgeable about music and appears to have been shabbily treated by BBC management. I caught up with the comments on the Slipped Disc piece and apart from the unpleasantness (regretfully to be expected on online comments sections these days) there was a noticeable split between those who thought SR a 'national treasure' and those who couldn't stand him. This seems to me to underline the problem of making R3 programmes presenter-led; the discussions revolve around the various merits or otherwise of the presenters rather than the musical content. This, of course, is something that french frank has been saying for some time!

[french frank]

This seems to me to underline the problem of making R3 programmes presenter-led; the discussions revolve around the various merits or otherwise of the presenters rather than the musical content. This, of course, is something that french frank has been saying for some time!

Well said! And of course the 'musical content' of these presenter-led magazines, being of lighter, secondary importance, is not as interesting as when the programmes were 'music-led' - even when they had regular presenters. I hadn't listened to In Tune for years, but Sean differed from many other R3 presenters in being a truly professional broadcaster.

[JSB Rules]

If I may add my opinion on this: It is very true that perceptions of SR and KD differ dramatically from person to person but I can't help thinking (believing) that Sean is certainly the more cerebral of the two while Ms D is definitely a witterer and the level of sycophancy she displays at times is sickening. She is, however, truly 'woke' and 'down with the kids' so destined for great things within the BBC (if not R3) whereas Sean was far more pragmatic and 'one of us' (IMHO of course!). I have found myself (as I quite often did way before Sean left) either retuning or turning off completely when La Derham starts fawning over her latest idol, jabbering incoherently with feigned excitement, or laughing like a drain at nothing in particular. The future for 5.00 - 7.00pm weekdays is not looking good!

[Old Grumpy]

If I may add my opinion on this: It is very true that perceptions of SR and KD differ dramatically from person to person but I can't help thinking (believing) that Sean is certainly the more cerebral of the two while Ms D is definitely a witterer and the level of sycophancy she displays at times is sickening. She is, however, truly 'woke' and 'down with the kids' so destined for great things within the BBC (if not R3) whereas Sean was far more pragmatic and 'one of us' (IMHO of course!). I have found myself (as I quite often did way before Sean left) either retuning or turning off completely when La Derham starts fawning over her latest idol, jabbering incoherently with feigned excitement, or laughing like a drain at nothing in particular. The future for 5.00 - 7.00pm weekdays is not looking good!

Indeed, JSB

[edashtav]

If I may add my opinion on this: It is very true that perceptions of SR and KD differ dramatically from person to person but I can't help thinking (believing) that Sean is certainly the more cerebral of the two while Ms D is definitely a witterer and the level of sycophancy she displays at times is sickening. She is, however, truly 'woke' and 'down with the kids' so destined for great things within the BBC (if not R3) whereas Sean was far more pragmatic and 'one of us' (IMHO of course!). I have found myself (as I quite often did way before Sean left) either retuning or turning off completely when La Derham starts fawning over her latest idol, jabbering incoherently with feigned excitement, or laughing like a drain at nothing in particular. The future for 5.00 - 7.00pm weekdays is not looking good!

Agreed!

[Ein Heldenleben]

If I may add my opinion on this: It is very true that perceptions of SR and KD differ dramatically from person to person but I can't help thinking (believing) that Sean is certainly the more cerebral of the two while Ms D is definitely a witterer and the level of sycophancy she displays at times is sickening. She is, however, truly 'woke' and 'down with the kids' so destined for great things within the BBC (if not R3) whereas Sean was far more pragmatic and 'one of us' (IMHO of course!). I have found myself (as I quite often did way before Sean left) either retuning or turning off completely when La Derham starts fawning over her latest idol, jabbering incoherently with feigned excitement, or laughing like a drain at nothing in particular. The future for 5.00 - 7.00pm weekdays is not looking good!

The plugging of Anton Du Beke’s forthcoming dance show on this weeks programme was excruciating. He must have mentioned it several times , At one point Katie read out a list of his tour dates. BBC presenters are just not supposed to do that. It’s called undue commercial prominence. The licence fee is not there to run ads. One commercial mention in the context of a broader interview is fine . Does no one on the show read the BBC’s editorial guidelines ? Apart from anything else Anton’s show has nothing to do with classical music.

[Old Grumpy]

The whole interview was excruciating!

[antongould]

The whole interview was excruciating!

is she to stumble on alone until Petroc arrives ….. ?????

[french frank]

Apart from anything else Anton’s show has nothing to do with classical music.

Or with Radio 3. But it is of special interest to that presenter. I hope she'll be telling us which washing-up liquid she prefers.

[Frances_iom]

R3 is dead - the only bit I listen to pre the occasional 7.30 concert is the last 2 mins of Bach before 7 as my alarm + the excellent (of account of its brevity) 7am news. I only listen to about 30% of Evening concerts as fewer and fewer fall into the traditional classical music format - lunchtime concerts were wrecked by encasing them in inconsequential wittereing

[Pulcinella]

R3 is dead - the only bit I listen to pre the occasional 7.30 concert is the last 2 mins of Bach before 7 as my alarm + the excellent (of account of its brevity) 7am news. I only listen to about 30% of Evening concerts as fewer and fewer fall into the traditional classical music format - lunchtime concerts were wrecked by encasing them in inconsequential wittereing

Sadly, that's pretty much how I feel, too.
I was never a fan of In Tune (compared to Homeward Bound, say) and fear that it might have been a portent of the 'chat and play bits of music' regime that is now all too prevalent.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The whole interview was excruciating!

Talk about a mutual admiration society …

[Ein Heldenleben]

is she to stumble on alone until Petroc arrives ….. ?????

He starts Monday …

[Ein Heldenleben]

Or with Radio 3. But it is of special interest to that presenter. I hope she'll be telling us which washing-up liquid she prefers.

Mind you Sean was forever mentioning the studio “Steinway” . Another flagrant breach of editorial guidelines.I know a few producers who’ve been hauled over the coals for just one or two stray breaches . I can only assume because the audience is so small no one complains or cares.