Celebrity Choice - the latest erosion?

[cloughie]

It looks like there is another erosion into the Live Concert slot on Radio 3, and a further endorsement of Celebrity Culture.

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/celebrity-choice

Who is Matafeo?

[Ein Heldenleben]

It looks like there is another erosion into the Live Concert slot on Radio 3, and a further endorsement of Celebrity Culture.

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/celebrity-choice

Who is Matafeo?

Looks to me that it’s a cunning way of disguising that they’ve run out of live concerts to relay.

[kernelbogey]

And
BBC Radio 3’s much-loved presenter, veteran broadcaster Sean Rafferty introduces the selections

[french frank]

It looks like there is another erosion into the Live Concert slot on Radio 3, and a further endorsement of Celebrity Culture.

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/celebrity-choice

Who is Matafeo?

So far, cautiously, it just seems like one week - or are those just the first week's celebs? Don't know who R Marafeo is but: “Curating my dream concert and sharing it with Radio 3 listeners is a treat … It’s also going to make me seem very smart and sophisticated to all of my friends and I will brag about it for years to come.” Will be interesting to see what she/they choose(s) as that will reveal rather more.

Load of tosh from the controller, I'm afraid. This is hardly a new or imaginative way for R3 to introduce classical music to new audiences. And it will not, in itself, interest existing audiences. Oh, yes, it will won't it? Since the existing audience is apparently made up significantly now of the once 'new' audience targeted for the past 30 years. Another programme for them, as one gathers from the blurb. Probably cheap as the celebs may well pay to be on.

[Bryn]

It looks like there is another erosion into the Live Concert slot on Radio 3, and a further endorsement of Celebrity Culture.

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/celebrity-choice

Who is Matafeo?

She was chosen as a follow-up to this week's Afternoon Concerts. Either that or they got Radio3 and BBC Three mixed up.

[french frank]

She was chosen as a follow-up to this week's Afternoon Concerts.

New Zealand comedian, actress and TV presenter. However, the fact that we - or some of us - hadn't heard of her is neither here nor there. Even the ones we have heard of don't enthral much.

That said, one of the most memorable - for me - editions of Private Passions was with John Bird, also a comedian. But he impressed me deeply with his knowledge and enthusiasm for classical music. So here the question is: have they been chosen just because they're willing celebrities who are flattered by being asked to 'curate' a concert? Or are they very knowledgeable? Another of those, 'Well, listen to it and you'll find out' programmes which risk being a waste of time.

[Bryn]

New Zealand comedian, actress and TV presenter. However, the fact that we - or some of us - hadn't heard of her is neither here nor there. Even the ones we have heard of don't enthral much.

That said, one of the most memorable - for me - editions of Private Passions was with John Bird, also a comedian. But he impressed me deeply with his knowledge and enthusiasm for classical music. So here the question is: have they been chosen just because they're willing celebrities who are flattered by being asked to 'curate' a concert? Or are they very knowledgeable? Another of those, 'Well, listen to it and you'll find out' programmes which risk being a waste of time.

“Curating my dream concert and sharing it with Radio 3 listeners is a treat, particularly at a time where the shared live concert experience isn’t possible. It’s also going to make me seem very smart and sophisticated to all of my friends and I will brag about it for years to come.” Hmm.

[cloughie]

So far, cautiously, it just seems like one week - or are those just the first week's celebs? Don't know who R Marafeo is but: “Curating my dream concert and sharing it with Radio 3 listeners is a treat … It’s also going to make me seem very smart and sophisticated to all of my friends and I will brag about it for years to come.” Will be interesting to see what she/they choose(s) as that will reveal rather more.

Load of tosh from the controller, I'm afraid. This is hardly a new or imaginative way for R3 to introduce classical music to new audiences. And it will not, in itself, interest existing audiences. Oh, yes, it will won't it? Since the existing audience is apparently made up significantly now of the once 'new' audience targeted for the past 30 years. Another programme for them, as one gathers from the blurb. Probably cheap as the celebs may well pay to be on.

As Jonny Mac said ‘You cannot be serious!’

Perhaps someone should suggest to Alan Davey that a week of concerts could be chosen by some real Radio 3 listeners - now where could he find those - I know - there’s a forum - now what’s it called? - there are people there who are very knowledgable - they’d put forward reaaly good balanced concerts and require no prompting for their choices!

[french frank]

Perhaps someone should suggest to Alan Davey that a week of concerts could be chosen by some real Radio 3 listeners - now where could he find those - I know - there’s a forum - now what’s it called? - there are people there who are very knowledgable - they’d put forward reaaly good balanced concerts and require no prompting for their choices!

That would attract 'the wrong sort of listener', I'm afraid

[oddoneout]

Well it isn't chasing 'new' audiences this time - or so they'd have you believe

imaginative ways of bringing great music in new ways to existing audiences

The mission is now it would seem to further drive away the listeners it still has. I'm assuming that the hope actually is that slebs will attract some of their followers into the 'here be dragons' R3 territory, and Sean R is a non-threatening presenter. Does "selected repertoire" mean same old same old, and "selections" incomplete works?
I have nothing against Sean R other than I find him impossible to listen to which is why I originally stopped listening to In Tune, so having him being part of the babble content rules it out I think, even if the music content would otherwise be of interest.
What is wrong with just putting together concerts and recitals from the archive for the evening slot? By all means try different takes/themes etc but inserting slebs for the sake of being different - no thank you. The runt of the litter from a pairing of Private Passions and Inside Music?
Even if Rose Matafeo was being tongue in cheek with this

make me seem very smart and sophisticated

it didn't make me want to listen to whatever else she may have to say.
And I comment as someone who's inadequate enough to listen to the morning schedules and Inside Gaming...

[underthecountertenor]

Unlike a lot of people hereabouts, I like Sean Rafferty a lot. But I'm worried about him. For some time now he seems to have been afflicted with a terrible choking cough which is clearly audible when his guests are speaking on In Tune. I deduce from his Wiki entry that he must be in his early 70s. I admire his work ethic, but do wonder whether it's wise of him to have been traipsing into Broadcasting House on a regular basis throughout the winter.

[french frank]

Well it isn't chasing 'new' audiences this time - or so they'd have you believe

Um, "BBC Radio 3 is always keen to open the treasure chest of classical music to new audiences"???

All I would add to that is that it doesn't matter whether the celebrities, with or without a bit of help from their friends, 'curate' an enjoyable concert, the idea of marketing it, selling it, through celebrities it just cheap, naff and not even new. As with presenters, quality control lies with management not with the on air voice. It's just that Radio 3's notion of quality has shifted from expertise > personality. I would have loved to have heard Mahan Esfahani talking about what interests him about harpsichords, performance and music focused on the harpsichord. It could be that he's fed up with doing that and jumped at the chance of introducing other music. But the idea of offering presenters and guests the chance to do what they want (and then be able to 'brag about' being on Radio 3 to their friends) leaves a Radio 3 audience out in the cold.

The mission is now it would seem to further drive away the listeners it still has.

I hear the echoing sounds of nails being remorselessly driven into coffins Being a late developer, I was an early middle-aged arrival to Radio 3, knowing (as now) very little. But I fitted into what Radio 3 was offering and that was the joy. I wouldn't have wanted them to be insulting me with celebrities and Early Years programming.

[jayne lee wilson]

This is what Rose Mateo is most famous for......

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p096kdf5/rose-matafeo-horndog

So there's her overextended 15 Minutes...But I don't really do comedy. Or noise. So.....

Street-Porter and Lumley? Oh God No, let me outta here......
Celebrities are bad enough, but overused, overexposed outdated celebrities...

[kernelbogey]

[Oddie:] I'm assuming that the hope actually is that slebs will attract some of their followers into the 'here be dragons' R3 territory

'Influencer' culture...?

[french frank]

Celebrities are bad enough, but overused, overexposed outdated celebrities...

And then fetch up on Radio 3? But as I say, as to individuals, tastes differ. It's the managerial, strategic principles that are so stale and misbegotten.