Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[Nick Armstrong]

I must be suffering from EOJOF(Early Onset JubOlympics Fever).

Sounds as if you need to invest in a couple of these, one each for you and Lady Norfolk!!

[Norfolk Born]

I've just been told that I can order one of each, but that will mean also ordering new fitted curtains and possibly a new three-piece suite. (They are wall-hangings, aren't they?)

[Rupert P Matley]

I now rarely tune in before Composer of the Week at 12. From then on things are more or less OK. I still don't understand why there can be no late evening classical music between 10 and 12.30.

Indeed, it might be better to rename the station Radio Twee before midday.

[ahinton]

Sounds as if you need to invest in a couple of these, one each for you and Lady Norfolk!!

Forgive (if you can) my ignorance in never having actually seen one of these items, but why are they made in two different colours?

[Osborn]

Blue for boys & grandads and pinkish for girls & grannies (delete as appropriate)

[Serial_Apologist]

Forgive (if you can) my ignorance in never having actually seen one of these items, but why are they made in two different colours?

Blue for Conservative republicans, red for socialists, I would imagine, though production of the latter would need to exceed the former.

[badmoodbear]

I'd just like to thank Sarah for a great programme this morning. A lovely selection of music for a beautiful summer's day.
I've only ever been on the forum twice before, both times to slag off R3 (once Rob's show, and the other the Schubert festival). I regretted it both times, I ended up feeling ignorant, stupid and mean. Never again! There was one piece which I didn't like this morning, but that's ok, it gave me the chance to make some coffee and stroke the cat.

[Ferretfancy]

This morning's beautiful performance and recording of the Schumann Piano Quintet with the Gewandhaus quartet certainly made my day.

[JFLL]

At the moment EC is playing Mozart's Piano Concerto no 17 K. 453 (an essential classic if ever there was one), but I missed the intro and do you you think I can find out who's playing it.? The DAB radio just gives 'Mozart's Piano Concerto 453' and the iPlayer doesn't even mention it -- in fact 'More information' on that page is exactly the same as 'Less information'. So once again we have one of the all-time great pieces of music treated as aural wallpaper.

Is this deliberate? Is serious listening now reduced to a quiz -- guess who's playing this? Doh!

[Roehre]

At the moment EC is playing Mozart's Piano Concerto no 17 K. 453 (an essential classic if ever there was one), but I missed the intro and do you you think I can find out who's playing it.? The DAB radio just gives 'Mozart's Piano Concerto 453' and the iPlayer doesn't even mention it -- in fact 'More information' on that page is exactly the same as 'Less information'. So once again we have one of the all-time great pieces of music treated as aural wallpaper.

Is this deliberate? Is serious listening now reduced to a quiz -- guess who's playing this? Doh!

BBC3 website:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto in G, K.453

Performers: Annerose Schmidt (piano), Dresden Philharmonic, Kurt Masur (conductor)

BERLIN CLASSICS 0031322BC

[Nick Armstrong]

I noticed that the half-hour guest "chat " was over by just gone 10:45 this morning.... Sounds of dead horses being flogged, nothing more to play or talk about after 15 / 20 minutes

or maybe it's part of a phasing-out process?

[JFLL]

BBC3 website:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto in G, K.453

Performers: Annerose Schmidt (piano), Dresden Philharmonic, Kurt Masur (conductor)

BERLIN CLASSICS 0031322BC

Thank you, Roehre, I see it's just a matter of knowing where to look. But why cannot they put this information in Radio Times or on the 'Now Playing' page? (That's part of my point -- things are made difficult for the serious listener.) I've noticed that the 11.00 slot ('Sarah's Essential Choice' [shudder]), which is trailed in Radio Times, is often followed by up to 35 minutes of music apparently not trailed anywhere, and often, like K 453, just what one might specially switch on to listen to. Contrast the detail always given to 'Composer of the Week' where apparently every single snippet is listed in Radio Times.

[Roehre]

Thank you, Roehre, I see it's just a matter of knowing where to look. But why cannot they put this information in Radio Times or on the 'Now Playing' page? (That's part of my point -- things are made difficult for the serious listener.) I've noticed that the 11.00 slot ('Sarah's Essential Choice' [shudder]), which is trailed in Radio Times, is often followed by up to 35 minutes of music apparently not trailed anywhere, and often, like K 453, just what one might specially switch on to listen to. Contrast the detail always given to 'Composer of the Week' where apparently every single snippet is listed in Radio Times.

I am afraid information regarding R3 programmes cannot be trusted at face value - information is lacking (like in the Radio Times), or straightforwardly ridiculous and unreliable -as the timings given at the R3 website for Afternoon on 3 programmes. Have a look at coming Friday's, and be surprised by a Schumann cello concerto taking only 20 minutes, just as much as the Berg songs that afternoon. Ca means that the programme can be as much as ten minutes late as well as ten minutes too early. And that is not helped by the unnecessary blah blah in between either.
And what is actually broadcast following the end of R3 Live in concert broadcasts? Is never announced anywhere until the very moment, and quite often more than half an hour's worth of music.
For me reasons hardly to listen to R3 "live" "as it happens" anymore. My spare time is too precious for that.

[EdgeleyRob]

or maybe it's part of a phasing-out process?

Let's hope so !

[teamsaint]

I noticed that the half-hour guest "chat " was over by just gone 10:45 this morning.... Sounds of dead horses being flogged, nothing more to play or talk about after 15 / 20 minutes

or maybe it's part of a phasing-out process?

to be fair, if I have just parked up, the chat gets me out of my car and selling, so some good comes of it.
(the whole chat thing has been almost unremittingly awful IMO).