Alan Bennett on Private Passions (inc. deploring over-enthusiastic presentation)

[Nick Armstrong]

What a treat !

It's funny that, even though AB is nearly 30 years my senior, Ivor Novello reminds me of my grandmother too - also in the environs of Bradford and Leeds... only there was no Auntie Evelyn playing the accompaniment.... It was the youthful Caliban at the piano, fighting through the sightreading with my grandmother warbling about 12 inches from my left ear I suspect that's where my almost pathological problem with vibrato-laden soprano singing originated.... (Love you nonetheless, Granny! )

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06s791j

With some extra choices and slightly surprising pet-hates on the website too...

[underthecountertenor]

Alan Bennett deplores over-enthusiastic presentation, and Michael Berkeley joins in

In part of his PP which didn't make the final edit, Alan Bennett confesses his aversions (in two cases because of over-exposure) and wonders why everything has to be 'Beethoven at his best' etc. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03clqfs

[ardcarp]

In my case it was grandmother (b.1887) who played the wheezy harmonium and I who piped a vibrato-free treble. It was also about then that ideas of pitch started to bother me as the old windbag (the harmonium that is) was very sharp cf the piano...which was always kept at A440. But I digress...must listen to AB on PP.

[underthecountertenor]

:.must listen to AB on PP.

Everyone should. (Sorry, cali, hadn't seen your post, but I hope you thought the above worth adding).

[Nick Armstrong]

Everyone should. (Sorry, cali, hadn't seen your post, but I hope you thought the above worth adding).

Definitely

[french frank]

Definitely

Liked MB's quote (in utct's clip) that saying everything is wonderful was 'meaningless' (everything is 'ordinary' makes more sense).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It was the youthful Caliban at the piano, fighting through the sightreading with my grandmother warbling about 12 inches from my left ear I suspect that's where my almost pathological problem with vibrato-laden soprano singing originated....

Moi aussi!

[Tevot]

I thought it was a wonderful programme. I loved AB's description of Lady Walton looking like "Samuel Beckett in drag"

[Nick Armstrong]

I loved AB's description of Lady Walton looking like "Samuel Beckett in drag"

Perfection!

[Flosshilde]

Everyone should. (Sorry, cali, hadn't seen your post, but I hope you thought the above worth adding).

Actually, I thought your heading was rather better than the thread's title, which suggests that PP had over-enthusiastic presentation (well, it does, I think, but I assume that's not what the thread title means). Usually a programme I avoid - because of the presentation - but I might listen to this one because of Alan Bennett.

[Nick Armstrong]

Actually, I thought your heading was rather better than the thread's title, which suggests that PP had over-enthusiastic presentation (well, it does, I think, but I assume that's not what the thread title means). Usually a programme I avoid - because of the presentation - but I might listen to this one because of Alan Bennett.

Typo corrected!

[Flosshilde]

[Old Grumpy]

Much enjoying Alan Bennett's Diaries on BBC2, which is interspersed with clips from Private Passions.

Enchanting.

OG

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Much enjoying Alan Bennett's Diaries on BBC2, which is interspersed with clips from Private Passions.
Enchanting.
OG

- and now The Lady in the Van

[Nick Armstrong]

- and now The Lady in the Van

Just embarking on the Diaries ... fascinating to see the PP episode woven in