Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[vinteuil]

To me, Stephen Johnson is one of the very best presenters Radio 3 has...

[EdgeleyRob]

....and if she turns out to be a Stockport County season ticket holder surely all will be forgiven?????

What,the other one ?

[Roehre]

To me, Stephen Johnson is one of the very best presenters Radio 3 has. The content of his presentation far overweighs his slight mannerism.

Seconded

[JFLL]

To me, Stephen Johnson is one of the very best presenters Radio 3 has. The content of his presentation far overweighs his slight mannerism.

Ah yes, if only someone could read his scripts for him ...

[french frank]

And while we are at it, does anyone really appreciate Stephen Johnson's ridiculously plummy tones..........David Nice is like that too.

I enjoy SJ's contributions very much, when he is allowed to make them. I can live with listening to a plummy voice if what is being spoken is worthwhile.

I'm absolutely fine with SJ, and his contributions.

Not me, but I dislike even more his emphasising almost every other word, so that in the end nothing is emphasised.

To me, Stephen Johnson is one of the very best presenters Radio 3 has. The content of his presentation far overweighs his slight mannerism.

Seconded

Ah yes, if only someone could read his scripts for him ...

I can't help feeling there is a lesson to be learned in all this Verb. sap. sat?

[Richard Tarleton]

A for Stephen Johnson from me too.

Ah yes, if only someone could read his scripts for him ...

I realise this is not a serious suggestion but one can tell in about a millisecond whether someone is speaking their own words, or someone else's. It's why I prefer an Attenborough wildlife doc, or one where the wildlife film maker is speaking, regardless of accent, to one where the script is read by a well-known actor.

It has to do with whether there is knowledge and experience behind the words - you can hear it.

[ChrisBennell]

I also can't stand the RC style of presentation - and normally avoid his programme at all costs. I did find last week, though, he played a few interesting works (to me anyway!). The Radio Times is NO HELP at all, as it doesn't list the detail. But browsing iPlayer, I did discover and enjoy Bach's Cantata BWV 34 on Tuesday - which incidentally was followed immediately by Roussel's Bacchus and Ariadne (incongruous programming or what?) - had to come back to that later, when I'd recovered from the Bach.

Also noticed Tippett's Symphony No 2 on Friday - (Colin Davis) - have made a note to catch up with that.

So are the BBC actually putting an effort in to "dumb-up" occasionally?? Let's keep the pressure on, and maybe they'll do the same to the presentation style!

[teamsaint]

for once, sounded like an interesting guest on EC today, the founder of the Big Issue.

Anybody catch all of it? I only heard 15 mins or so.

[french frank]

for once, sounded like an interesting guest on EC today, the founder of the Big Issue.

Anybody catch all of it? I only heard 15 mins or so.

Notwithstanding the appearance of one of our eminent members (allegedly), no. Benefit segment. If I wanted to hear someone famous being interviewed, I'd listen to Private Passions or Desert Island Discs. But every morning on a Radio 3 music programme? Er, no thank you. (La donna è mobile, plus a bit from Rodeo, bit from Midsummer Night's Dream, The Chairman Dances ... I assume the Sibelius was wrongly included in the CotW of Schumann since it has now apparently disappeared from there).

The format is just as unattractive as Breakfast. I don't really understand why people are willing to sit through this in order to hear the odd bit of good music, possibly. Even the Eroica is not exactly rarely played.

[teamsaint]

Notwithstanding the appearance of one of our eminent members (allegedly), no. Benefit segment. If I wanted to hear someone famous being interviewed, I'd listen to Private Passions or Desert Island Discs. But every morning on a Radio 3 music programme? Er, no thank you. (La donna è mobile, plus a bit from Rodeo, bit from Midsummer Night's Dream, The Chairman Dances ... I assume the Sibelius was wrongly included in the CotW of Schumann since it has now apparently disappeared from there).

The format is just as unattractive as Breakfast. I don't really understand why people are willing to sit through this in order to hear the odd bit of good music, possibly. Even the Eroica is not exactly rarely played.

I only said he sounded like an interesting guest .

the format is what it is. I wouldn't have it like that, and I don't "access" it, "on line, on tablet on iplayer "or anywhere much usually.

[french frank]

the format is what it is.

It is, yes that's exactly what it is: 3 hours of nondescriptery. But it is for a specific audience which, it seems, does enjoy it.

[teamsaint]

It is, yes that's exactly what it is: 3 hours of nondescriptery. But it is for a specific audience which, it seems, does enjoy it.

I "enjoyed" it when I had a really horrible debilitating cold, 2 years ago.

It was the only music I could cope with . Sort of aural weak beef tea.

[french frank]

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The format is just as unattractive as Breakfast. I don't really understand why people are willing to sit through this in order to hear the odd bit of good music, possibly. Even the Eroica is not exactly rarely played.

I suspect it's only listened to by people who "dip in" or use it as pleasant background music - ditto Breakfast, In Tune, Saturday Classics, etc.
The BBC might do well to experiment - publishing the full playlist in advance. It may even encourage some of the many doubters to tune in occasionally.

[vinteuil]

The BBC might do well to experiment - publishing the full playlist in advance. It may even encourage some of the many doubters to tune in occasionally.

I agree.

... if there were playlists - even better, if details were provided in the Radio Times - then I wd listen far more.

As it is, I find Breakfast, Essential Classics, In Tune etc unlistenable-to, so probably miss stuff I wd otherwise really like to hear.

Radio 3 has lost me as a listener for much of the day...