Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[vinteuil]

Beecham is to be Artist of the Week or some such.

I don't often listen to EC but for this reason I will be tuning in at the appropriate times.

.. if Beecham is to be Artist of the Week or some such ....well, I don't often listen to EC - but if only for this reason I will be certainly not be tuning in...

[Stanfordian]

For me there is absolutely no way that I would ever consider Anne Boyd's "As I crossed a Bridge of Dreams", the last item on today's programme, an "Essential Classic".

I agree. Unessential and not a classsic!

[Lat-Literal]

.. if Beecham is to be Artist of the Week or some such ....well, I don't often listen to EC - but if only for this reason I will be certainly not be tuning in...

That has put the R3 programme makers who take notice of what we say in a spin.

Luckily, they have a tray called Marmite.

[vinteuil]

Luckily, they have a tray called Marmite.

.

[Stanley Stewart]

A double blessing on Essential Classics, a follow-up after the joy of listening to broadcaster, Hugh Sykes, last week; to select Simon Callow as guest from 6 Feb - a fine, distinguished actor, director, as well as an enticing writer! My book collection has shelf room for his biographies, My Life in Pieces, Shooting the Actor, as well as his fastidious research for his biographies of Orson Welles and Charles Laughton, and an informed scribe on NT productions.

I first made casual acquaintance with Simon when he was a box office assistant at the Old Vic in the mid 70s - a shrewd move which kept him in the eye of NT casting directors - and you certainly couldn't miss him. Even when seated out-front, his laugh could be instantly identified! He was trained at the Drama Centre at Camden which specialised in the principles of Laban notation by two foremost practitioners, Yat Malmgren and Christopher Fettes. I've always deeply regretted being indifferent to their tuition when they taught at the RADA,early 60s, before they left to establish the Drama Centre.

Simon Callow came into the limelight in Peter Hall's 1979 production of Peter Shaffer's, Amadeus at the NT, now well established at the South Bank. Paul Scofield, a master of human complexity, played Salieri, probably his major performance before his John Gabriel Borkman in the 90s. Useful reminisce about the rehearsals in Monday's programme. A key scene is a duo between the two men when Mozart thanks Salieri for his march - but, running over to the keyboard, "...if you changed this phrase here? altered the rhythm a little? used a little harmony?" - before he turned the Italian's anonymous exercise in note-spinning into what the world will soon know as 'Non piu andrai' from Le Nozze di Figaro', the dynamic of the play in a single scene, mediocrity mocked by genius. The anger and hatred of Salieri, blood freezing and electric moment which rippled through the auditorium.




Lively broadcasting with a couple of days to go.

[cloughie]

That has put the R3 programme makers who take notice of what we say in a spin.

You say that assuming that they give a ......

.....actually I like Tommy's recordings - hope there's one of his unHIPP Haydn Symphonies in there.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

You say that assuming that they give a ......

.....actually I like Tommy's recordings - hope there's one of his unHIPP Haydn Symphonies in there.

I think I have every one of his Mozart recordings that have made it to CD.

[Mal]

However, the real teaser,today, was the performance of Tchai 6, CSO/Solti,...

It was superb, the Scheherazade, with Reiner, had this most exciting of bands going full out as well. 11am Essential Classics/Artist of the Week looks like a spot worth keeping an eye on - last week (Chicago SO) was a great selection, and this week (Beecham) has been as well - his Schubert 5 and Haydn 100 (with RPO) are must listens...

[Stanley Stewart]

How refreshing to have a stimulating guest on EC for the third week running, the inimitable Maggi Hambling! Happy reminders of visits to Aldeburgh and the anti-Britten undercurrent which bars any prospect of a statue in his name. However, the main attraction for me here is MH's experience and directness in discussing her creative juices, today the conflict between light and colour, alongside her musical choice between Beethoven and DSCH. A treat.
R3 in fine fettle.

[french frank]

R3 in fine fettle.

Half an hour focusing just on Maggi Hambling the artist would be more my idea of 'R3 in fine fettle'. If there are to be celebrated 'guests', surely it's better for them to discuss, in more depth, what it is they're celebrated for rather than drag in snippets of their musical choices? And the whole of the Beethoven string quartet and Shostakovich violin sonata.

[Stanley Stewart]

Half an hour focusing just on Maggi Hambling the artist would be more my idea of 'R3 in fine fettle'. If there are to be celebrated 'guests', surely it's better for them to discuss, in more depth, what it is they're celebrated for rather than drag in snippets of their musical choices? And the whole of the Beethoven string quartet and Shostakovich violin sonata.

Indeed, ff, a consummation devoutly to be wished!

[french frank]

Indeed, ff, a consummation devoutly to be wished!

[Sir Velo]

Happy reminders of visits to Aldeburgh and the anti-Britten undercurrent which bars any prospect of a statue in his name.

Interesting; is that feeling still rife? I would have thought the town would have had much to thank B&P for, but that's gratitude for you!

[Stanley Stewart]

Interesting; is that feeling still rife? I would have thought the town would have had much to thank B&P for, but that's gratitude for you!

Indeed, Sir Velo, Maggi Hambling twice made a reference to a local unwillingness to erect a Britten statue but Sarah Walker was not in a giving vein on the issue. Apart from homophobia, there may be a resentment of out-of-towners buying second homes and inflating property prices for local residents...perhaps.

[french frank]

not in a giving vein

Thou troublest me, SS?