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

[french frank]

What do you mean by personality driven ...... ????

Unnecessary promotion of the presenter over the music. I even find it tooth-grindingly irritating to read about (for example only) Petroc's classical commute, Petroc's classical mix, Petroc's classical alternative, Petroc's classic picks, Petroc's classical rise and shine, Petroc's classical alarm call (I daresay it's the same for 'Georgia'). Having too much input from presenters which consists of neither musical insights or information, particularly where the presenter has been chosen for reasons unconnected with their knowledge of classical music. E.g. presenters who have built their reputations on other (non classical) music stations. Curiously, (not speaking about Petroc here) to criticise a presenter for lack of knowledge, excessively pushy personality &c seems reasonable becaue that detracts from the core interest - the music, but to praise a presenter for anything other than their excellent musical knowledge seems to suggest the personality is more important.

I shall retire under the onslaught of others who take the opposing view.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Unnecessary promotion of the presenter over the music. I even find it tooth-grindingly irritating to read about (for example only) Petroc's classical commute, Petroc's classical mix, Petroc's classical alternative, Petroc's classic picks, Petroc's classical rise and shine, Petroc's classical alarm call (I daresay it's the same for 'Georgia'). Having too much input from presenters which consists of neither musical insights or information, particularly where the presenter has been chosen for reasons unconnected with their knowledge of classical music. E.g. presenters who have built their reputations on other (non classical) music stations. Curiously, (not speaking about Petroc here) to criticise a presenter for lack of knowledge, excessively pushy personality &c seems reasonable becaue that detracts from the core interest - the music, but to praise a presenter for anything other than their excellent musical knowledge seems to suggest the personality is more important.

I shall retire under the onslaught of others who take the opposing view.

No opposition from me . It is personality driven because all the evidence I’ve seen about radio is that , like it or not , the presenter is the single most important driver of mainstream music magazine programme audiences. That’s why Zoe Ball et al earn millions. It’s not true of Specialist things like Opera and live concerts though . The question is - should Radio 3 between 07.00 and 12.00 be personality driven? The powers that be would argue that without delivering audience there the station wouldn’t survive.

[antongould]

Unnecessary promotion of the presenter over the music. I even find it tooth-grindingly irritating to read about (for example only) Petroc's classical commute, Petroc's classical mix, Petroc's classical alternative, Petroc's classic picks, Petroc's classical rise and shine, Petroc's classical alarm call (I daresay it's the same for 'Georgia'). Having too much input from presenters which consists of neither musical insights or information, particularly where the presenter has been chosen for reasons unconnected with their knowledge of classical music. E.g. presenters who have built their reputations on other (non classical) music stations. Curiously, (not speaking about Petroc here) to criticise a presenter for lack of knowledge, excessively pushy personality &c seems reasonable becaue that detracts from the core interest - the music, but to praise a presenter for anything other than their excellent musical knowledge seems to suggest the personality is more important.

I shall retire under the onslaught of others who take the opposing view.

No need to retire I just thought utc’s post showed very clearly that CFM is far more personality lead IMVVHO ... you really should listen to CFM

[AuntDaisy]

How can you endorse that claim when, as you say, the only part of Classic FM you even occasionally listened to was Catherine Bott?

I can believe six impossible things before Breakfast.

[oddoneout]

Unnecessary promotion of the presenter over the music. I even find it tooth-grindingly irritating to read about (for example only) Petroc's classical commute, Petroc's classical mix, Petroc's classical alternative, Petroc's classic picks, Petroc's classical rise and shine, Petroc's classical alarm call (I daresay it's the same for 'Georgia'). Having too much input from presenters which consists of neither musical insights or information, particularly where the presenter has been chosen for reasons unconnected with their knowledge of classical music. E.g. presenters who have built their reputations on other (non classical) music stations. Curiously, (not speaking about Petroc here) to criticise a presenter for lack of knowledge, excessively pushy personality &c seems reasonable becaue that detracts from the core interest - the music, but to praise a presenter for anything other than their excellent musical knowledge seems to suggest the personality is more important.

I shall retire under the onslaught of others who take the opposing view.

No onslaught here but I am curious about where you read such things? Are these delights I miss now I am no longer a Radio Times reader?
At the moment, although the presenter may be too much in evidence for some, the various programmes(and not just in the morning) are not given people's names. It is Breakfast, not XYZ's Breakfast, Afternoon on 3 not Tom McKinney's afternoon concert picks. I hope that doesn't change, as the rot will be terminal then. There will always be differences of opinion about the merits or otherwise of such people - and have always been. I liked Patricia Hughes presenting the evening concerts, others did not; I have to grit my teeth when Tom Service is doing such a slot, others like him.

[french frank]

No need to retire I just thought utc’s post showed very clearly that CFM is far more personality lead IMVVHO ... you really should listen to CFM

I think there was a slight movement from what I meant in my original statement: "Classic FM has a better claim to put 'classical music at the heart' of their output". If Radio 3 is including the seven programmes I mentioned as being part of their 'classical music output', then Classic FM has a 'better claim', since just about every programme - albeit much of it even more unbearable than Radio 3 - is 'classical music' whereas Radio 3 includes other types of music and speech programmes.

That does not mean that I think Radio 3 'shouldn't' broadcast "other types of music and speech programmes"; nor that I think Classic FM is somehow a superior station.

I meant that the claim that Radio 3 puts classical music "at the heart of its output" must be including the seven programmes previously alluded to which - like Classic FM's programming - is aimed at appealing to a more general listener who prefers 'information light' content. Ergo CFM has a better claim to put such programmes at the heart of its output because that's all it does broadcast. It's a matter of opinion which is 'better' - Classic FM listeners no doubt think CFM is better - meaning it suits their listening requirements better.

If I say the more general 'classical music' programmes on Radio 3 are 'unlistenable' I mean I can't bear to listen to them. Discovering that CFM is even worse won't attract me to Radio 3's froth.

No onslaught here but I am curious about where you read such things?

The online schedule for Breakfast.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl8t/2021/w05

[oddoneout]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl8t/2021/w05[/url]

Just goes to show I don't read the blurb as I'd not noticed that! But in fairness I only click on there(ditto EC) to skim through the playlist to check something I've heard, so easy to miss.

[french frank]

It’s a funny old world though isn’t it? One of the benefits of the eclecticism of Radio 3 is that John Foulds now appears to be the subject of a documentary on the channel.

Just to reinforce that https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000s2h0 . Tomorrow 18.45 - and if you can bear Simon Heffer (who is actually very knowledgeable about English music and not a bad presenter).

[underthecountertenor]

I think there was a slight movement from what I meant in my original statement: "Classic FM has a better claim to put 'classical music at the heart' of their output". If Radio 3 is including the seven programmes I mentioned as being part of their 'classical music output', then Classic FM has a 'better claim', since just about every programme - albeit much of it even more unbearable than Radio 3 - is 'classical music' whereas Radio 3 includes other types of music and speech programmes.

That does not mean that I think Radio 3 'shouldn't' broadcast "other types of music and speech programmes"; nor that I think Classic FM is somehow a superior station.

I meant that the claim that Radio 3 puts classical music "at the heart of its output" must be including the seven programmes previously alluded to which - like Classic FM's programming - is aimed at appealing to a more general listener who prefers 'information light' content. Ergo CFM has a better claim to put such programmes at the heart of its output because that's all it does broadcast. It's a matter of opinion which is 'better' - Classic FM listeners no doubt think CFM is better - meaning it suits their listening requirements better.

If I say the more general 'classical music' programmes on Radio 3 are 'unlistenable' I mean I can't bear to listen to them. Discovering that CFM is even worse won't attract me to Radio 3's froth.



The online schedule for Breakfast.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl8t/2021/w05

I'm sure it's my fault that I now entirely fail to follow your argument. It may come down to different understandings for what is meant by the words 'at the heart of its output'.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Just to reinforce that https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000s2h0 . Tomorrow 18.45 - and if you can bear Simon Heffer (who is actually very knowledgeable about English music and not a bad presenter).

He’s also a first rate historian but he does write exceedingly long books....

[french frank]

I'm sure it's my fault that I now entirely fail to follow your argument. It may come down to different understandings for what is meant by the words 'at the heart of its output'.

Very generous of you utct. It's usually my fault for being unintentionally opaque

[AuntDaisy]

I'm sure it's my fault that I now entirely fail to follow your argument. It may come down to different understandings for what is meant by the words 'at the heart of its output'.

Sorry, blame me for posting Alan Davey's e-mail reply about "Through the Night".
I read his "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. " in, what I think, might be a similar way to French Frank.

[underthecountertenor]

Very generous of you utct. It's usually my fault for being unintentionally opaque

[Ein Heldenleben]

UTC - this Met Trovatore with Corelli / Price on now will cast all this into irrelevance ....

[underthecountertenor]

UTC - this Met Trovatore with Corelli / Price on now will cast all this into irrelevance ....

I’m recording it, and greatly look forward to relishing it very soon.