Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

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  • Nick Armstrong
    Host
    • Nov 2010
    • 26523

    #46
    If only they'd dump the guest spot and the charades, this programme could be ok... It's good RC is featuring "Les Siècles" and Clifford Curzon this week, and who would have predicted that an 'essential classic' would be:

    Suk
    The Ripening, Op.34
    Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
    Vaclav Neumann (conductor)

    I'd never heard of it let alone heard it. It's the sort of discovery R3 should be for. Sadly I won't be able to listen at 11am today.

    Plus a nostalgic plug for Interpretations on Record from RC (in reference to Curzon in Brahms).

    There is a great radio programme here trying to escape the shackles of idiocy.
    "...the isle is full of noises,
    Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
    Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
    Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

    Comment

    • Norfolk Born

      #47
      Originally posted by Caliban View Post
      If only they'd dump the guest spot and the charades, this programme could be ok... It's good RC is featuring "Les Siècles" and Clifford Curzon this week, and who would have predicted that an 'essential classic' would be:

      Suk
      The Ripening, Op.34
      Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
      Vaclav Neumann (conductor)

      I'd never heard of it let alone heard it. It's the sort of discovery R3 should be for. Sadly I won't be able to listen at 11am today.Plus a nostalgic plug for Interpretations on Record from RC (in reference to Curzon in Brahms).

      There is a great radio programme here trying to escape the shackles of idiocy.
      Happily, I shall - indeed, it's just started. The opening is certainly rather attractive.

      CORRIE COMMENT: Just caught up with last Friday's second episode. To say that we watched it open-mouthed doesn't necessarily mean that we were filled with awe or admiration.

      Comment

      • Norfolk Born

        #48
        The Suk has just finished (Gott sei Dank!) I would describe it as an overblown version of 'Verklärte Nacht', if you can imagine such a thing. Thankfully, RC has decided to end his 'show' today with an early Mozart symphony - vive la différence!

        Comment

        • Nick Armstrong
          Host
          • Nov 2010
          • 26523

          #49
          Originally posted by Norfolk Born View Post
          Happily, I shall - indeed, it's just started. The opening is certainly rather attractive.

          ....

          The Suk has just finished (Gott sei Dank!) I would describe it as an overblown version of 'Verklärte Nacht', if you can imagine such a thing. Thankfully, RC has decided to end his 'show' today with an early Mozart symphony - vive la différence!
          Thanks, poster-formerly-known-as-Ofca ! Well I think that fact that you and others had a chance to hear it is a great thing. The only Suk I know is his Scherzo Fantastique which is very haunting and seductive but in all but the most magicianly hands (Mackerras) its repetitions outstay their welcome.



          Originally posted by Norfolk Born View Post
          CORRIE COMMENT: Just caught up with last Friday's second episode. To say that we watched it open-mouthed doesn't necessarily mean that we were filled with awe or admiration.
          I caught up with the omnibus this weekend, I take it you mean the confession and expiry (Gott sei Dank!) of Stape/Fishwick??
          "...the isle is full of noises,
          Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
          Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
          Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

          Comment

          • Serial_Apologist
            Full Member
            • Dec 2010
            • 37602

            #50
            Originally posted by Caliban View Post
            Thanks, poster-formerly-known-as-Ofca ! Well I think that fact that you and others had a chance to hear it is a great thing. The only Suk I know is his Scherzo Fantastique which is very haunting and seductive but in all but the most magicianly hands (Mackerras) its repetitions outstay their welcome.





            I caught up with the omnibus this weekend, I take it you mean the confession and expiry (Gott sei Dank!) of Stape/Fishwick??
            Cailban - the Scherzo Fantastique is early Suk, most of it relatively lightweight but pleasant in a sub-Dvorakian kinda way, (he became Dvorak's son-in-law btw); "Zrani" is something else entirely: think "Tintagel" and "Ein Heldenleben" out on a date on steroids.

            Comment

            • Norfolk Born

              #51
              Originally posted by Caliban View Post
              [COLOR="#0000FF"]
              [COLOR="#0000FF"] I caught up with the omnibus this weekend, I take it you mean the confession and expiry (Gott sei Dank!) of Stape/Fishwick??[/COLOR]
              Indeed, I do - preposterous nonsense, or what? (Had I been allowed to have my way, she would have pulled the plug on him and promptly been re-arrested).

              Comment

              • Nick Armstrong
                Host
                • Nov 2010
                • 26523

                #52
                Originally posted by Norfolk Born View Post
                Indeed, I do - preposterous nonsense, or what? (Had I been allowed to have my way, she would have pulled the plug on him and promptly been re-arrested).
                They seemed incapable of making anything to do with that character credible.

                Now to a real villain, the mummy's boy rapist...
                "...the isle is full of noises,
                Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

                Comment

                • Nick Armstrong
                  Host
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 26523

                  #53
                  Back on thread, and to continue my upbeat remarks on today's "Essential Classics", an enormous "hurrah" for the wonderful Curzon / Kubelik reading of Beethoven's 4th PC which accompanied me to work. A real treat. Interesting anecdote beforehand about Sir Cliff's frost-bitten fingers while studying with Schnabel, too; and the quick reference to his earlier recording of the concerto with Hans Kna. Classic stuff from Rob C - deft, informative and giving one a chance to hear an unfamiliar (to me) reading of a familiar work
                  "...the isle is full of noises,
                  Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                  Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                  Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

                  Comment

                  • french frank
                    Administrator/Moderator
                    • Feb 2007
                    • 30250

                    #54
                    Originally posted by Caliban View Post
                    Back on thread, and to continue my upbeat remarks on today's "Essential Classics", an enormous "hurrah" for the wonderful Curzon / Kubelik reading of Beethoven's 4th PC which accompanied me to work. A real treat. Interesting anecdote beforehand about Sir Cliff's frost-bitten fingers while studying with Schnabel, too; and the quick reference to his earlier recording of the concerto with Hans Kna. Classic stuff from Rob C - deft, informative and giving one a chance to hear an unfamiliar (to me) reading of a familiar work
                    Sadly, Caly, in this complicated world, you're vindicating the worst of the programme: you can't please all the people all the time. You loved this, hated that? Other people loved that, hated this. The best possible balance.

                    It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                    Comment

                    • Nick Armstrong
                      Host
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 26523

                      #55
                      Originally posted by french frank View Post
                      you're vindicating the worst of the programme
                      It is complicated, ff, isn't it - because one can't argue that the hour I heard between 9.30 and 10.30 was anything other than great stuff.

                      Breakfast, however, remains a less complicated issue: unadulterated cr*p.
                      "...the isle is full of noises,
                      Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                      Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                      Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

                      Comment

                      • french frank
                        Administrator/Moderator
                        • Feb 2007
                        • 30250

                        #56
                        Originally posted by Caliban View Post
                        Breakfast, however, remains a less complicated issue: unadulterated cr*p.
                        Not to be confused with the beginning of Essential Classics today, which was Scheidt

                        It is complicated trying to deal with imperatives and aversions. If you intend to listen between 9.30 and 10.30, and timing is the key factor for you, then it matters less whether you know in advance what to expect. If you base your decision on whether to listen or not on what is to be played, then it is vital. (In this case, common sense would dictate that it should be published in advance, since while others would insist, you would not object; but, alas, that sort of common sense is not customarily applied!)
                        It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                        Comment

                        • Nick Armstrong
                          Host
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 26523

                          #57
                          Originally posted by french frank View Post
                          Not to be confused with the beginning of Essential Classics today, which was Scheidt
                          The whole Scheidt family was out in force today - the Derren Brown spot was excruciating. Rob C sounded to be in terrible difficulty asking him anything relevant or interesting...

                          And then Brown introduced Pergolesi's "Stabat mater" by saying he found it "bouncy"

                          The legions of "new listeners to R3" attracted to the station by Mr Brown's presence and the friendly new chat format must have been disappointed when, looking forward to something nice and bouncy, they got the first movement of the "Stabat Mater". Or they assumed someone had put on the wrong CD...
                          "...the isle is full of noises,
                          Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                          Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                          Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

                          Comment

                          • bach736
                            Full Member
                            • Nov 2010
                            • 213

                            #58
                            Can't help thinking how much Classic fm is beginning to sound like Radio 3 these days.

                            Comment

                            • mercia
                              Full Member
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 8920

                              #59
                              very much enjoyed the Hindemith/Wagner Flying Dutchman Overture Rob played this morning, a new one to me

                              Comment

                              • antongould
                                Full Member
                                • Nov 2010
                                • 8780

                                #60
                                and Suffolkcoastal we now have Roy Harris 3 - I bet he hasn't made many appearances this year.

                                Comment

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