Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[french frank]

ntelligent choice of 'guests ' and a better constructed setting could be something to consider.

The problem with having guests (and quizzes) and other bits and pieces in together is that it effectively makes the entire 3-hour programme unattractive for some people. If R3 wants a second Private Passions, so be it, but there will be those who won't even be bothered to check what bit's on when. Unless it's a coherent programme which appeals to them (as I presume Private Passions appeals), why bother? Especially as the entire three hours are aimed at one specific audience, which doesn't want anything but chatty radio.

[Lento]

Maybe.

Personally, I would prefer they dumped the whole chat show concept. However, if they have to dilute the musical nectar with desultory natter, how much better it would be if they had actual musicians, or industry insiders as the guests. Surely, a Neville Marriner, or a Mitsuko Uchida would make a far more entertaining guest, with their knowledge of music and the biz. Some actual account of how records are made, interpretative and technical challenges of the repertoire, balancing commercial imperatives with artistic interests- how much more insightful a programme this would make!

Can't disagree with any of that, except Mitsuko Uchida (who would drive me mad)! My approving comment re Louis de B was in the context of a casual radio encounter rather than planned serious musical listening. Perhaps put this kind of guesty thing on Radio 4 along with PP & DID??

[oddoneout]

The problem with having guests (and quizzes) and other bits and pieces in together is that it effectively makes the entire 3-hour programme unattractive for some people..

Which was why I said 'better constructed setting' - I assume that the underlying raison d'etre of this thread is that the whole programme set-up is unsatisfactory/not fit for purpose.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A pleasure - but please don't, especially as you did not indicate what you might let me know!

Better to ignore provocation from a

[french frank]

I assume that the underlying raison d'etre of this thread is that the whole programme set-up is unsatisfactory/not fit for purpose.

It's my view, anyway When I started listening to R3 - and I don't go back into pre-history, n' Patricia Hughes an' that - there was more variety. If you listened to the morning programme you could go on to listen to CotW at 9am, if you wanted, and then switch off. Or you could listen to Artist of the Week if it was someone like Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (and they would actually be interviewed, not just have a selection of recordings). Then you could switch off.

But the 'Radio bosses' don't want you to listen like that: they want to keep you listening so there are no obvious programme breaks which is when people turn off.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

But the 'Radio bosses' don't want you to listen like that: they want to keep you listening so there are no obvious programme breaks which is when people turn off.

They must be rather stupid then. If Radio 3 tries to be CFM2, it loses half of its audience to its rival. If Radio 3 is true to itself, it keeps all of its audience.

They don't want us to switch off? By broadcasting diluted drivel, an audience with a few brain cells are unlikely to switch on.

[french frank]

They don't want us to switch off? By broadcasting diluted drivel, an audience with a few brain cells are unlikely to switch on.

The point is that many/most people today do regard radio as background [music] which you have on continuously while you do other things. And that audience is far, far larger than the audience which looks for more focused programmes, and listens to them selectively.

We are few and we switch off when we've heard our chosen programmes. And therefore useless critturs to the BBC - as for any broadcaster.

[Stanfordian]

The first two works on 'Essential Classics' this morning were:
Maurice Vandair - Fleur de Paris
Gaspar Cassadó - Toccata in the style of Frescobaldi
I'm wondering what is essential or classic about these two?

[french frank]

The first two works on 'Essential Classics' this morning were:
Maurice Vandair - Fleur de Paris
Gaspar Cassadó - Toccata in the style of Frescobaldi
I'm wondering what is essential or classic about these two?

Time for the programme to change its name? Then we might begin to move forward, though I wouldn't guarantee it wouldn't start shedding a few listeners. But that would be by choice, not because they were being 'excluded'.

[doversoul1]

Time for the programme to change its name? Then we might begin to move forward, though I wouldn't guarantee it wouldn't start shedding a few listeners. But that would be by choice, not because they were being 'excluded'.

Ah, but those who decide to leave will feel they are being excluded (‘the programme has gone e***t’ etc.) but as has been said by many, including, I think, Roger Wright, it’s not possible to please everybody. Radio 3 should please the listeners who value the station for what it is.

[french frank]

Ah, but those who decide to leave will feel they are being excluded (‘the programme has gone e***t’ etc.) but as has been said by many, including, I think, Roger Wright, it’s not possible to please everybody. Radio 3 should please the listeners who value the station for what it is.

Fine, then what's wrong with listening to Classic FM?

It's where Breakfast/Essential Classics and Classic FM both cater for the audience which feels it's (the e***** word) if they are asked to listen to less familiar music that is at the root of the problem. Stations and programmes don't have to be identical to be in competition with each other: it's appealing to similar audiences which puts them in competition. Yet R3 has always denied being in competition with Classic FM, and it doesn't have to be.

[doversoul1]

Fine, then what's wrong with listening to Classic FM?

It's where Breakfast/Essential Classics and Classic FM both cater for the audience which feels it's (the e***** word) if they are asked to listen to less familiar music that is at the root of the problem. Stations and programmes don't have to be identical to be in competition with each other: it's appealing to similar audiences which puts them in competition. Yet R3 has always denied being in competition with Classic FM, and it doesn't have to be.

I agree with you entirely. My point is that there will be the (same old) criticism if the change happens. So R3 and Alan Davey should be prepared to stand up and say what you are saying here.

[french frank]

My point is that there will be the (same old) criticism if the change happens. So R3 and Alan Davey should be prepared to stand up and say what you are saying here.

Some signs that AD is prepared to poke a finger in their collective eye. Might be interesting to see how Sunday mornings are set to develop … for some time a Radio 3 trouble spot ever since the ferociously popular (NK's) 'Brian Kay's Sunday Morning' was dropped. Then we had (RW's) Sunday Live with Stephanie Hughes, then (RW's) 'Burnside' which had quite a roasting on the old BBC messageboards. Then (RW's) Sunday Morning.

[Richard Tarleton]

I was disconcerted (why? I must be getting old, having seen him and grown up with his recordings) to see/hear Tortelier (and Gendron for that matter) described as an old world cellist/cellist from the past. I did not hear RC define his terms, perhaps he just meant "dead". PT only died in 1990....Feuermann and Piatigorsky, possibly. Tortelier only a few years older than, and to all intents and purposes contemporary of, Rostropovich....

[french frank]

I was disconcerted (why? I must be getting old, having seen him and grown up with his recordings) to see/hear Tortelier (and Gendron for that matter) described as an old world cellist/cellist from the past. I did not hear RC define his terms, perhaps he just meant "dead". PT only died in 1990....Feuermann and Piatigorsky, possibly. Tortelier only a few years older than, and to all intents and purposes contemporary of, Rostropovich....

And I was once in the same train coach as PT - and his cello. Crumbs - and RC is knocking 70 himself!