Skelly replaces Cowan

[hmvman]

Sorry Rob, the dynamic compression applied by CFM makes it a real no, no zone for me. Acceptable for car or kitchen listening, maybe, but through even semi-decent equipment? No thanks.

Agree with you, Bryn, on that. I can't stand listening to it for more than a few minutes. I like 'pp' to sound pp not mf!

Not that Rob can do anything about that...

[cloughie]

We're not all R3 presenters, cloughie - pronouncing furrin names correctly always used to be a Key Performance Indicator for the job. When you strip it down to its essentials, that's what the job is. This particular name is just a bête noir, some might even call it an obsession, of mine

I'm fine on the Welsh Ll but have problems with Chorizio!

[LMcD]

[QUOTE=Lat-Literal;651168]Best wishes to you, and for your new programme on Classic FM.

My principal issue with commercial radio is..........the commercials. [QUOTE]

It sometimes seems that Radio 3 has as many trails as CFM has commercials, and they're often no less annoying. In terms of content, the average length of items on Essential Classics is not much different from that on CFM.

(I've just seen Draco M's post on this topic, so am happy to register my agreement with what he says about trails)

[Rob Cowan]

Sorry Rob, the dynamic compression applied by CFM makes it a real no, no zone for me. Acceptable for car or kitchen listening, maybe, but through even semi-decent equipment? No thanks.

Yes it is me, btw - good to see you all. Well at least the compression is good for analogue - a sock-it-to-me Living Stereo or Mercury Living Presence will still sound pretty good, and so will singers and fiddlers. I'll do my best to ensure that what I play sounds impressive - and there's SO much to choose from. Best to all. Rob C (as real as I get!)

[french frank]

Yes it is me, btw - good to see you all. Well at least the compression is good for analogue - a sock-it-to-me Living Stereo or Mercury Living Presence will still sound pretty good, and so will singers and fiddlers. I'll do my best to ensure that what I play sounds impressive - and there's SO much to choose from. Best to all. Rob C (as real as I get!)

Sorry to doubt you, Rob

What I think sounds better than Essential Classics:

1. It's only 2 hours long. A weakish point, but I feel that 3 hours of a single presenter, stuck in a studio with a metaphorical pile of records is lazy, unimaginative and, ok, cheap. So 2 hours is better, but 60-90 minutes encourages more enterprise on how to make the music different each time. It also makes it easier to achieve coherence. A 3-hour programme needs at least 3 full-length 30-40 min works, preannounced, and preferably played one after the other so that people don't need to bother with the snippety bits.

2. There is no mention of a guest. All right, some on Essential Classics have been better than others, but if this is to be a music programme a guest's presence is not required; and especially not when they have more to say about themselves than about the music.

3. There is no mention of listeners clamouring to have their suggestions played. 'a Classic FM Hall of Fame favourite, followed by a rarely-heard yet similar work for listeners to discover' sounds much like the new Ess. Cla. 'follow-up' or 'companion piece', but with a knowledgeable presenter coming up with something unusual - a counterbalance to the sigh-inducing HoF favourite.

4. Don't like silly 'Sure Shot' brand name, but okay for a knowledgeable presenter to select a good new disc. Downside: what does 'tipped for success' mean? Reaching the Specialist Classical Chart? That would be a no-no. Just a good new disc.

5. Artist of the Week. Unobjectionable but not very original.

6. Okay compression, though many, including me, would rather hear more serious selections of music compressed than a tooth-grindingly awful programme with snippets in HD sound.


Verdict: 3/5 compared with Essential Classics 1/5 (being a bit generous there).

[cloughie]

Yes it is me, btw - good to see you all. Well at least the compression is good for analogue - a sock-it-to-me Living Stereo or Mercury Living Presence will still sound pretty good, and so will singers and fiddlers. I'll do my best to ensure that what I play sounds impressive - and there's SO much to choose from. Best to all. Rob C (as real as I get!)

It sounds like CD Masters - same guy, different platform.

[Richard Tarleton]

It sounds like CD Masters - same guy, different platform.

Different time of day, too. Who is the target demographic I wonder, or rather how is it described by CFM (they will have one fairly precisely in mind). More a concert/opera time for your average R3 listener?

[gurnemanz]

I quite like Rob, if not some of the things Radio 3 forced him to do, and am sorry that I won't be hearing him any more because I certainly won't be following him to CFM (cf Catherine Bott).

[vinteuil]

I quite like Rob, if not some of the things Radio 3 forced him to do...

... he always gave every appearance of enjoying 'the things Radio 3 forced him to do'.

.

[eighthobstruction]

... he always gave every appearance of enjoying 'the things Radio 3 forced him to do'.

.

....yes good luck and best wishes....

[Stanfordian]

... he always gave every appearance of enjoying 'the things Radio 3 forced him to do'.

.

Hiya vinteuil,

Like reading out inane tweets and presenting pathetic competitions!

Maybe Rob's a replacement for David Mellor, Alan Titchmarsh, Alex James, Alexander Armstrong or Bill Turnbull!

[Sir Velo]

Now that the man himself has (belatedly) rejoined the forum, perhaps he will be able to share with us his real views on the format and presentation of Essential Classics.

[BBMmk2]

Hiya Rob, do hope your new programme will be a success and be rather chunky!

[gurnemanz]

... he always gave every appearance of enjoying 'the things Radio 3 forced him to do'.

.

True

[Karafan]

Greetings everyone. Karafan: don't you think it would be fairer to sample my new CFM show before assuming an unpalatable menu? I have some great stuff planned for the first programme (6th January) and have no intention of abandoning playlist standards that I helped established on R3. I've always flown a flag for CFM, even while at R3, and the reverse is also true. Both stations are vital to the country's cultural profile.

Hi Rob, I could be quite guilty of a little presumption there and intend to listen as I have always found your R3 contributions very valuable. I thought, in the quote, I had detected the cold, dead hand of a CFM PR man - my apologies if not!

I am afraid, though, that an antipathy for the customary CFM offerings has taken gradual hold in me over the years - though I thought they started out better than they have developed (Hugh MacPherson's opera guide, anyone?).

However, I shall tune in with an open mind (and ears) and wish you all the best with your new endeavours.

K.