Saturday Classics/Inside Music

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

OK, IN THEORY from that PR blurb, we should expect: first, explain what 'the rules' are, and then show how they are broken?
Exposition on radio?

As FF wisely says, hearing is believing in terms of R3 blurb > R3 output.

It's supposed to be DARING when you break the rules. It makes it sound more impressive than it really is.


But I cannot agree that KD would have done it better.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

All presenters should have to be auditioned one would have thought. Maybe not these days on the BBC where I guess the main criterion is being well known or a celebrity. Presenting is certainly not easy!

Well TS isn't a celebrity, but his knowledge is considerable (with a delivery level of below zero).

[french frank]

All presenters should have to be auditioned one would have thought. Maybe not these days on the BBC where I guess the main criterion is being well known or a celebrity. Presenting is certainly not easy!

But in this case, the 'presenters' are guests, neither freelance nor staff presenters (both of which are under some sort of contract.

To have guests presenting for one programme does not seem, in itself, a questionable idea. Though they could be given a clear brief of what was expected (and turn down the offer if it involved more work than they wanted to undertake), and the producer could vet the the proposed script/content to be sure that it was up to the standard expected.

[Stanfordian]

Well TS isn't a celebrity, but his knowledge is considerable (with a delivery level of below zero).

I'm really referring to guest presenters such as Currie not established ones such as TS. Actually I've no problem with TS at all.

[cloughie]

Yes, that's him. If you google him you get 1,700,000 hits, so not quite overlooked Though Billie Holiday is their even more famous cousin!

Even if the surname has got the l out of it!

[oddoneout]

Performers aren't available at the drop of a hat, I imagine, and it must be a bit potluck. I don't suppose the producer (who may be responsible for choosing the guests) can endlessly nitpick about how they are approaching the job. CC was the first one: we can probably expect some unevenness. Performers aren't necessarily going to be good broadcasters - or critics. Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Nicholas Collon to come.

So perhaps rather more time and effort needs to go into producing such programmes? Finding people who are knowledgeable, able to engage with listeners, available(not so much of an issue with recorded programmes I would have thought?) and prepared to put a bit of work in given a decent brief.
However I do wonder if the problem we are having is that we expect something other than 'musician presents some personally chosen pieces of music'(ie 'proper' R3 rather than popular). I'm sure that Evelyn Glennie could have made a worthwhile programme about percussion, illustrated with suitable items that were also of relevance/importance to her. Reminds me of the discussions following last year's BBC4 showings of documentaries about instruments - David Owen Norris on the piano cf Nicola Benedetti on the violin.

[doversoul1]

The programme sounds to me very much like Essential Classic in a new guise. At least Sara Walker has a good broadcasting voice. Can we no longer hope to hear experts?

[Bryn]

The programme sounds to me very much like Essential Classic in a new guise. At least Sara Walker has a good broadcasting voice. Can we no longer hope to hear experts?

You have me confused. There is no Saturday Classics today.

[french frank]

You have me confused. There is no Saturday Classics today.

You're easily confused, Bryn

Yes, it seems odd to select Murray Perahia's Goldbergs. Does the presenter have an inside knowledge of piano performance/music, as well as violin?

[Bryn]

You're easily confused, Bryn

Yes, it seems odd to select Murray Perahia's Goldbergs. Does the presenter have an inside knowledge of piano performance/music, as well as violin?

Time this "Saturday Classis" thread was closed and new one oppened, perhaps.

[doversoul1]

You have me confused. There is no Saturday Classics today.

Sorry, Bryn. I mentioned Sara Walker in connection with Essential Classics. The contents she was presenting wasn’t approved by everybody but I think she is an excellent radio broadcaster.

As for the Goldbergs, not a word said about harpsichord. It almost makes me wonder if she knows.

[Nick Armstrong]

Does the presenter have an inside knowledge of piano performance/music

No idea - but she certainly didn't have a voice for radio.

[Richard Tarleton]

No idea - but she certainly didn't have a voice for radio.

Indeed. Whatever were they thinking? (I think she has guested on In Tune with Sean R). She's probably an excellent violinist. She came to our local venue tho I didn't go as her programme didn't appeal. I can think of two violinists who have made excellent Saturday Classics presenters (Jack Liebeck, Rachel Podger - the latter a little giggly, in a self-deprecating sort of way, as if embarrassed to be doing it at all, but an engaging host).

[doversoul1]

Indeed. Whatever were they thinking? (I think she has guested on In Tune with Sean R). She's probably an excellent violinist. She came to our local venue tho I didn't go as her programme didn't appeal. I can think of two violinists who have made excellent Saturday Classics presenters (Jack Liebeck, Rachel Podger - the latter a little giggly, in a self-deprecating sort of way, as if embarrassed to be doing it at all, but an engaging host).

Elin Manahan Thomas in the new release section on yesterday’s Record Review is, to me, a perfect example of ‘a musician talking about music from inside’. I wonder if the choice, those with untrained voice and presentation skills, is deliberate in order to give an impression that Radio 3’s presenters are boys/girls next door. Possibly another attempt to make the station look (sound) un- elitist.

[Richard Tarleton]

Elin Manahan Thomas in the new release section on yesterday’s Record Review is, to me, a perfect example of ‘a musician talking about music from inside’.

She has a considerable intellectual as well as musical hinterland, lovely speaking voice, engagng personality, plenty to say - the very opposite of "untrained voice and presentation skills" (is that what you meant, dover??)