Major New Series for R3!!

[Guest]

Just found this on R3 Facebook page - Mega - New Series - Please give your thoughts

"I'm producing a major new series for Radio 3 that's essentially a funny, irreverent, "bluffer's guide" to the Symphony, as part of a big Symphony Season on the TV and Radio in November. And I need your questions!

It's presented by the brilliant Sue Perkins and Tom Service, whose aim is to answer everything you ever wondered about the symphony but were too afraid to ask. Like...

- Why are symphonies venerated as the 'highest' musical form?
- Is there really a 'curse of the Ninth'?
- Why do symphonies have four movements, and why do some people glare if you clap in between them?
- Why are Beethoven's symphonies admired so much?

But I need MORE of your questions! Anything you've ever wondered - whether simple, complicated, maddening or weird..."

Edit: Magor and Major <banned doh emoticon>

I've seen a preview of the Symphony programmes at work and they look really good. We've also got a lot of activity planned for BBCRadio3, on-air and on the web site and you'll be able to listen to all the symphonies featured in the TV programmes on the radio.

<vomit emoticon>

[Nick Armstrong]

Just found this on R3 Facebook page - Mega - New Series - Please give your thoughts

"I'm producing a major new series for Radio 3 that's essentially a funny, irreverent, "bluffer's guide" to the Symphony, as part of a big Symphony Season on the TV and Radio in November. And I need your questions!

It's presented by the brilliant Sue Perkins and Tom Service, whose aim is to answer everything you ever wondered about the symphony but were too afraid to ask. Like...

- Why are symphonies venerated as the 'highest' musical form?
- Is there really a 'curse of the Ninth'?
- Why do symphonies have four movements, and why do some people glare if you clap in between them?
- Why are Beethoven's symphonies admired so much?

But I need MORE of your questions! Anything you've ever wondered - whether simple, complicated, maddening or weird..."

Edit: Magor and Major <banned doh emoticon>

I've seen a preview of the Symphony programmes at work and they look really good. We've also got a lot of activity planned for BBCRadio3, on-air and on the web site and you'll be able to listen to all the symphonies featured in the TV programmes on the radio.

<vomit emoticon>

Allow me:

And permit me to join you:

[Anna]

Oh No, Magor should be Major!

Magor is a one-horse town. In SE Wales. This new series (much as I love Sue Perkins) seems aimed at 14 year olds. But, funnily enough, on FB, there is no way to comment.

[french frank]

Oh No, Magor should be Major!

Amended. I thought Magor was some sort of Welsh slang term

[aeolium]

I liked the sound of Magor New Series for R3 - it sounds much better than the Major New Series.

There's a Vale of Glamorgan Festival not far from Magor, and that festival is quite enterprising in playing works of living composers.

[decantor]

This new series (much as I love Sue Perkins) seems aimed at 14 year olds.

Oh dear. If Sue Perkins is the love-interest in this Major New Series, I may not be tempted. Of course, I have no objection whatever to R3 programmes being aimed at 14-year-olds, provided that (a) they are supremely good programmes for 14-year-olds, and (b) huge numbers of 14-year-olds are attracted to tune in without being required to do so by Act of Parliament.

[teamsaint]

programme looks ok....but I assume this is a mistake and its going to be on BBC3, not R3.

[mercia]

Why do symphonies have four movements?

or not, as the case may be

this series is going to be a radio/TV joint effort, no?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_leaf_of/4506242540/

http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/roasted-tomatoes-magor-sauce

[hmvman]

There was quite a bit of discussion on the Facebook page over the last couple of days. It concerned mainly the subject of applause between symphony movements prompted by a rather rude and silly description of people who are annoyed by it on the original posting (subsequently edited out, I think). Anyway, that page seems to have disappeared from FB now so, presumably, that's discussion over.

What did emerge, though, was that this 'funny' Sue Perkins programme was only one in a series exploring the symphony, including some on BBC4 TV with Simon Russell Beale and Sir Mark Elder. There may be plenty to be enjoyed.

[french frank]

More information here.

[mercia]

Mr Klein makes a bold claim for the series "Symphony is one of the greatest musical achievements of all time "

I must have missed that "scrapheap" prom, when was that?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wonder whether the BBC Concert Orchestra likes the term indirectly attributed to it.

[doversoul1]

Symphony: Genesis And Genius
Symphony: Beethoven and Beyond

Columbus and beyond? Not a word about Haydn let alone CPE B or W. Boyce and the whole lot. Can’t Radio3 leave this sort of thing to TV and just get on with playing symphonies?

Roger Wright, Controller BBC Radio 3, says: "As the BBC's home of classical music, I'm delighted that on Radio 3 we can offer listeners the chance to hear complete performances of over 60 symphonies featuring the BBC Orchestras around the UK

At least RW seems to know that we don’t often have that chance these days……

Re: ff's post #10

[french frank]

Mr Klein makes a bold claim for the series "Symphony is one of the greatest musical achievements of all time "

I must have missed that "scrapheap" prom, when was that?

The Human Planet children's Prom - Nos 11 & 12.

[mercia]

thank you