Rob Cowan dropped by Classic FM

[Bryn]

From Rob Cowan's FB page:

BOXING DAY @ 7pm @ClassicFM – THE VERY LAST EDITION OF COWAN’S CLASSICS … Berlioz with George Szell, Heifetz plays Saint-Saëns, Lang Lang plays Bach and a whole host more goodies for your musical entertainment. Thank you so much for listening and communicating over the years and here’s hoping that ‘we’ll meet again’ before too long. Have a great – and safe – holiday.

and

Contract not renewed - lack of dosh I think. Still, I'll dream up. others ways to reach you I.m sure.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Looking at the last rajar figures (March 20) Classic FM were up year on year in share terms. I wouldn’t be surprised with people staying at home that performance has improved since March .But with with the economy in recession the first thing to get cut are marketing and advertising budgets. There have been big cuts in the BBC as well particularly in News. I wonder if BBC Radio will pick Rob up. Apart from his great skills as a broadcaster he comes complete with his own vast cd library ....

[cloughie]

Perhaps at 72, you never know he may wish to retire!

[jayne lee wilson]

We need him around more than ever, R3 or Gramophone or wherever he hangs his hat, and the few others like him...he taught me so much (even, or perhaps especially, when I disagree)...... keep going Rob, writing or talking....!

[cloughie]

We need him around more than ever, R3 or Gramophone or wherever he hangs his hat, and the few others like him...he taught me so much (even, or perhaps especially, when I disagree)...... keep going Rob, writing or talking....!

I agree Jayne - CD Masters was the best R3 morning programme of C21st - it wasn’t broken but the true to form BBC fixed it!

[Cockney Sparrow]

Could The Gramophone be the vehicle to crowdfund or set up a subscription service "Interpretations on Record" from authoritative contributors such as Rob, Stephen Johnson and others (on their own, no "host".....please!)

Seems to me that CFM have no staying power - they like taking a presenter away from the BBC but are hardly committed to nurturing them. And in keeping with the superficial approach, its got to be on to the next big thing (couldn't tell you what - I hardley ever go there). If only I'd built on my (very) slender education in French - I could listen to their output.....

"Nurturing" - hmm - anyone remember how long the defectors from Gardener's Question Time lasted on the rival programme set up by CFM?

[jayne lee wilson]

Could The Gramophone be the vehicle to crowdfund or set up a subscription service "Interpretations on Record" from authoritative contributors such as Rob, Stephen Johnson and others (on their own, no "host".....please!)

See "Collection" under "Gramophone"...... every month in the digital/print magazine, as good as ever... (disagree&debate all part of the fun)....
Latest issue had PQ on.....Missa Solemnis...

[Cockney Sparrow]

See "Collection" under "Gramophone"...... every month in the digital/print magazine, as good as ever... (disagree&debate all part of the fun)....
Latest issue had PQ on.....Missa Solemnis...

Indeed, I subscribe. Put it out as a podcast. If only Murdoch owned the Gramophone. He'd be delighted to park another tank on the BBC's lawn.......

[jayne lee wilson]

Indeed, I subscribe. Put it out as a podcast. If only Murdoch owned the Gramophone. He'd be delighted to park another tank on the BBC's lawn.......

.......(down, deeper and down under Haymarket, onward and upward with Mark Allen.....)...

Something called "reading" works for me, followed by "streaming of recommendations".....

[silvestrione]

See "Collection" under "Gramophone"...... every month in the digital/print magazine, as good as ever... (disagree&debate all part of the fun)....
Latest issue had PQ on.....Missa Solemnis...

That Peter Quantrill on the Missa is superb in my view, so thorough, perceptive, and thoughtful. But how he got through listening to so many, and stayed sane, I'm not entirely sure!

[Cockney Sparrow]

.......(down, deeper and down under Haymarket, onward and upward with Mark Allen.....)...

Something called "reading" works for me, followed by "streaming of recommendations".....

On which basis, Interpretations on Record, if it had continued, and Radio 3 would no longer be needed. Which could be your point. For myself I'd like to hear Rob, Stephen and others and audio extracts.

[jayne lee wilson]

On which basis, Interpretations on Record, if it had continued, and Radio 3 would no longer be needed. Which could be your point. For myself I'd like to hear Rob, Stephen and others and audio extracts.

Should be more to Radio 3 than reviews or surveys.... it was always mainly about live or recorded concerts for me....... but it doesn't need to be either/or, I'd love IoR back (and more Gramophone writers on BaL!)........
Radio 3 is itself part of the streaming universe now along with Qobuz, Tidal, DCH etc etc....

As a lifelong PSB supporter, guess I was just bit shocked at the idea of Murdoch ownership....if the Tories stay in power there may be no more BBC-as-we-know-it after 2024/5 anyway, and Newscorp will doubtless cheer that on.......

[Bryn]

Should be more to Radio 3 than reviews or surveys.... it was always mainly about live or recorded concerts for me....... but it doesn't need to be either/or, I'd love IoR back (and more Gramophone writers on BaL!)........
Radio 3 is itself part of the streaming universe now along with Qobuz, Tidal, DCH etc etc....

As a lifelong PSB supporter, guess I was just bit shocked at the idea of Murdoch ownership....if the Tories stay in power there may be no more BBC-as-we-know-it after 2024/5 anyway, and Newscorp will doubtless cheer that on.......

Very well put, if I may say so. The iPlayer and Sounds have much to offer but for any special interest group, such as ours (sorry, but that's the way it is) they face stiff competition from the other streaming services you mention. Good live and 'recorded live' performances are what lends an edge for us, but others are attracted by the Breakfast/Essential Classics fare. We still get far more 'live' performances than were on offer when I were a lad. All you got was most evenings. Even when the Misic Programme was launched diring the day, you might lose it to cricket.

[BBMmk2]

I was having a chat with Rob, he hopes to be back on air, one or another. I suggested internet radio. I don’t think he’ll be coming back to the BBC, after the way some of his colleagues treated him!

[HighlandDougie]

That Peter Quantrill on the Missa is superb in my view, so thorough, perceptive, and thoughtful. But how he got through listening to so many, and stayed sane, I'm not entirely sure!

Glad that I'm not alone in being very impressed with PQ's essay - it has made me rethink how I approach the MS and has had me listen afresh to a work which I have always seen as ever so slightly forbidding - mistakenly as I now realise .

The Gramophone these days is, I hope, prospering under the Mark Allen ownership. I now look forward to receiving it each month, which I would not have said five years ago.