Tearjerker, Downtown Symphony, Piano Flow, Happy Harmonies and other Saturday padding

[Leinster Lass]

Whatever station is was on and has been over the years he has always come over as superficial - and like other DJs of his era more interested in himself than the music he plays!

To his credit, I don't think Tony Blackburn has ever claimed not to be 'superficial' as you put it. As for the jokes - well, I'm quite capable of blanking them out and simply enjoying the music. He certainly comes across - at least on the basis of what I heard of 'Tearjerker' before switching off - as a lot less interested in himself than Jorja is in herself.
I'm afraid that, for me, Ms Alker comes across as a kind of hockey team captain enthusing before a group of dutifully admiring junior school acolytes.

[antongould]

....... dutifully admiring junior school acolytes.

I know my place ...... Lady Gould would probably agree .......

[kernelbogey]

I have suggested that they could do this at a stroke by switching the Archers over to Radio 3, but Radio 4 wouldn't play..

La famigllia Arceri
Una storia di contadini ordinarissimi

Libretto: Walter Scotto
Musica: Giuseppe Verdi

Orchestra Municipale di Ambridge
Conducted by Mia Grundy-Tyla

[french frank]

La famigllia Arceri
Una storia di contadini ordinarissimi

Libretto: Walter Scotto
Musica: Giuseppi Verdi....

Think you might have to work on the marketing a bit there, kb. Have to pull in the R4 listeners. Though if you put the storia di contadini ordinarissimi on R4 and the real thing on R3, it might cause a 'spike' in the R3 listening figures. If successful it could double them.

[Roslynmuse]

La famigllia Arceri
Una storia di contadini ordinarissimi

Libretto: Walter Scotto
Musica: Giuseppi Verdi....

The captain of the balestrieri (Genoese bowmen) appears in Simon Boccanegra!

Maybe it's really Giuseppe Grundi!

[kernelbogey]

Have to pull in the R4 listeners.

More sex and more murders.

[Anastasius]

...
I, alone obviously, like Alkers .... I have no problem with her presentational style and she has IMVVHO enthusiasm and a nice self deprecating sense of humour ..... sadly we will never really know if she is having the desired effect .....

Not here. I switch off instantly.

I hadn't heard of Tearjerker until this thread. Dipped in this evening and it has immediately reached the No 1 spot for instant dismissal.

As an aside, and has already probably been mentioned elsewhere, the recent programming on Afternoon has been refreshingly different.

[Leinster Lass]

Not here. I switch off instantly.

I hadn't heard of Tearjerker until this thread. Dipped in this evening and it has immediately reached the No 1 spot for instant dismissal.

As an aside, and has already probably been mentioned elsewhere, the recent programming on Afternoon has been refreshingly different.

To be fair, if 'Tearjerker' is aimed at children, they've probably been wise to go for an overenthusiastic 'fresh voiced' presenter.

[kernelbogey]

'While viewing the Caskets in our grief-friendly showroom, please feel free to enjoy the specially curated music chosen for your listening pleasure by our mourning consultants. You are welcome to rest here and allow the mindful mix we have prepared for you at this sad time to help the flow of tears you need.'

[AuntDaisy]

I had a reply from Alan Davey, Controller R3 - while I'm grateful to him for taking the time to reply, I'm not sure it's overly informative.
If they're "obliged to broadcast all content that it commissions on air first", why not replace "Breakfast"? Or is it a case of minimising complaints by replacing TTN?
I've included my original e-mails for completeness.

From: Alan Davey
Sent: 29 January 2021 19:45
Subject: Cuts to Through the Night

Thank you for your emails regarding the 5am broadcast of Tearjerker.

Through the Night is one of Radio 3’s most important programmes with a loyal audience, and will continue to be broadcast seven nights a week on Radio 3. However, we occasionally change the schedule to accommodate particular programmes, and for a limited period it will finish at 5am instead of 7am on Saturdays to accommodate some new mood-led strands which are aimed at a younger and less specialist audience in order to allow them to discover classical music in ways that Radio 3 does not usually present it and in a contemporary context. While BBC Radio 3 commissioned these programmes primarily for BBC Sounds – where audiences can enjoy a rich array of performances and programmes from Radio 3 on demand - it is obliged to broadcast all content that it commissions on air first. The broadcast slot early on a Saturday morning was chosen because is a quiet and contemplative time at the beginning of a weekend where it might better fit the needs of all listeners. As ever, this is a matter of taste of course, but we seek to please as many people as we can.

Radio 3 is dedicated to serving its core and knowledgeable audience through most of its schedule, but it is also committed to bringing classical music to new generations of listeners. We know that younger audiences are discovering orchestral and instrumental music through streaming cross-genre playlists and find it not only enjoyable and enriching, but also relaxing and calming and helping to manage their moods. We hope that programming such as Tearjerker with Jorja Smith reflects how this audience will identify with and enjoy classical music. The feedback from a variety of listeners has been overwhelmingly positive so far.

Classical music remains at the heart of BBC Radio 3’s schedule and accounts for the vast majority of our programming. This will always be the case. And Through the Night will be at the heart of that offer.

Yours sincerely

ALAN DAVEY

Alan Davey CBE
Controller, Radio 3, BBC Proms and BBC Orchestras and Choirs

Sent: 16 January 2021 11:04
To: Alan Davey
Subject: Cuts to Through the Night

Dear Mr Davey,

I contacted Through the Night about the TearJerker DRIVEL that was broadcast this morning (e-mail below). I’ve just found a BBC Media article with a quote from you https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/20...d-music-series

Why does this have to be broadcast on Radio 3 and remove part of Through the Night? Can’t BBC SOUNDS have its own programme for the youngsters that you’re trying to attract / support?

The full 6 hour Notturno / Through the Night programmes are still being compiled and broadcast within Europe, it’s only we poor Brits that have these cuts forced on us.

Rather than chasing youngsters and constantly advertising the abysmal SOUNDS app, why not think about the loyal, older Radio 3 listeners? I’m 54 and have been a keen BBC radio listener for over 40 years, but I now find myself frequently turning to European radio stations, e.g. BR Klassik & ORF Ö1, where decent public service Classical Music broadcasting still survives.

Yes, you can try to support the youngsters, but not at the expense of “us Oldies”.

Best wishes,

Sent: 16 January 2021 09:00
To: 'throughthenight@bbc.co.uk' <throughthenight@bbc.co.uk>

Subject: Cuts to Through the Night

Dear Through the Night,

I have been an avid listener to Through the Night for over 15 years (since we returned to the UK).

Today, Saturday, I was shocked to find that one of my favourite programmes had been cut to 4 hours and replaced by what I can only describe as DRIVEL, presumably designed to tempt youngsters to the delights of BBC SOUNDS.

Who is Jorja Smith? Why is she / TearJerker on Radio 3? I see that in coming weeks, this rubbish will be augmented by Downtime Symphony and that a 4 hour Through the Night will become the norm on Saturdays.

On top of the frequent Through the Night repeats & occasional replacements, these cuts are yet another slap in the face for established Radio 3 listeners.

Yours angrily,

[vinteuil]

.

Through the Night is one of Radio 3’s most important programmes with a loyal audience, and will continue to be broadcast seven nights a week on Radio 3. However, we occasionally change the schedule to accommodate particular programmes, and for a limited period it will finish at 5am instead of 7am on Saturdays to accommodate some new mood-led strands which are aimed at a younger and less specialist audience ...

... perhaps a tiny glimmer of hope?

.

[Quarky]

A 12 part series, apparently:: https://audioalways.com/news/tearjer...h-jorja-smith/

Let's hope that each 5am - 7 am episode counts as two parts.

[AuntDaisy]

Here's a list of what we poor Brits have missed on Through the Night.
Available to listen to on Euroclassic Notturno, e.g. https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/1647077
I love the Marais.

5:01 Joseph Haydn; Divertimento in C major, aka London Trio No 1 (Hob.4 No 1); Carol Wincenc (flute), Philip Setzer (violin), Carter Brey (cello)
5:10 Jean Sibelius; Petite Suite; Royal Academy of Music Brass Soloists
5:18 Hector Berlioz; Le Carnaval romain overture Op 9; Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis (conductor)
5:27 Marin Marais; La Sonnerie de Sainte-Genevieve du Mont de Paris; Ricercar Consort, Henri Ledroit (conductor)
5:36 Gabriel Faure; Elegie (Op.24) arr. for cello and orchestra; Shauna Rolston (cello), Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Uri Mayer (conductor)
5:43 Adolf Schulz-Evler / Johann Strauss II; Concert arabesque on themes by Johann Strauss for piano; Benjamin Grosvenor (piano)
5:54 Maurice Ravel; Une Barque sur l'ocean; Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Eivind Aadland (conductor)
6:02 Emilio de' Cavalieri & Girolamo Frescobaldi; Lamentations: Tertia Die; Profeti della Quinta
6:21 Ludwig van Beethoven; Piano Sonata no 5 in C minor, Op 10 no 1; Cedric Tiberghien (piano)
6:41 Richard Wagner; Siegfried Idyll; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles (conductor)

https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/ebu/files/notturno-playlists/2021/01/30%20January%202021.pdf

[AuntDaisy]

A 12 part series, apparently:: https://audioalways.com/news/tearjer...h-jorja-smith/

Let's hope that each 5am - 7 am episode counts as two parts.

I'm not sure - at least 3 months is my gloomy prediction.
TearJerker is now weekly & augmented by "Downtime Symphony" - fronted by what looks to be a another sulky (sorry, emotive) teenager that I've never heard of.

Downtime Symphony
Celeste's downtime soundtrack, powered by orchestral, lo-fi beats
An hour of wind-down music to help you press pause and reset your mind - with chilled sounds of orchestral, jazz, ambient, and lo-fi beats.

[french frank]

Well done SD. I do think writing direct or to editor/ media correspondent of Times etc is likely to be more effective than oldies moaning here

I don't think anyone intends 'moaning here' to be a means of getting results. Though nor do I think writing green ink letters (or using any other colour ink) to the press would be in any way effective. Nor writing to one's MP. Radio 3 has its reasons - if they achieve their aims it will carry on; if it fails they will try something else.