Private Passions

[Ein Heldenleben]

They are putting out the wrong edition of Private Passions .This seems to be the recent programme with Steve Rosenberg rathe than the promised Ben Watt. Quite an unusual mistake. I wonder how long it’ll be before anyone notices .

[burning dog]

And my prefence would be for Private Passions to differentiate itself from Desert Island Discs by not focusing on the personal life of the guest - unless, possibly, the life and career are bound up with music. On this last edition it seems that the not-so-private passion was 'space' and the discussion was centred mainly on her life and job, so I'd like less of a 'celebrity' guest and more of a knowledgeable music lover..

I agree

[eighthobstruction]

"It all depends what you mean by 'depend'... " Professor Joad [1891-1953], (attrib.)

.

...yaaa you can get (attrib) for almost anything these days (and especially those days)

[vinteuil]

....well yes, but what is anything intended to be. I know we are focusing on a particular subject ; supposedly OT a la OP....but I'd like to widen it out beyond context....what's it all about....what the hells happening......

"It all depends what you mean by 'depend'... " Professor Joad [1891-1953], (attrib.)

.

[eighthobstruction]

what is it intended to be

....well yes, but what is anything intended to be. I know we are focusing on a particular subject ; supposedly OT a la OP....but I'd like to widen it out beyond context....what's it all about....what the hells happening....(100 times a day I wish Jacob Bronowski was still alive)....

[french frank]

You might be amazed to hear that “generalist ex-Radio 4 producers “ and especially Desert Island Disc exec producers often know quite a lot about classical music. In the unlikely event that they don’t there’s always the expertise of Michael Berkeley to fall back on. If guests want to choose jazz or pop that’s up to them isn’t it ?

I don't think the problem lies at all with what the guests 'want to choose' (if I remember correctly Harry BIrtwistle chose a Beatles song). It lies with whom the producers choose to have as guests; and therefore what the (very knowledgeable) presenter feels he can easily discuss with that guest. In other words, it's more to do with what kind of programme the producers and managers want.

I'm sure Steven Pinker is an interesting and erudite man. But the producers might have established in advance whether he would be happy to choose some classical music for a 'classical music programme' - if that's what PP is intended to be. If not that, what is it intended to be? Another R3 'middle of the road' half classical half what the guest/presenter wants played à la Piano Flow, Happy Harmonies or Tearjerker?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Because until 2014, the programme was made by Classic Arts, a company with a production team who knew - and cared - about classical music, and the programme focused on the music. Since then, it has been made by Loftus Media, a company consisting of a group of generalist ex-Radio 4 producers, with no music specialists, and an executive producer who used to produce Desert Island Discs.

You might be amazed to hear that “generalist ex-Radio 4 producers “ and especially Desert Island Disc exec producers often know quite a lot about classical music. In the unlikely event that they don’t there’s always the expertise of Michael Berkeley to fall back on. If guests want to choose jazz or pop that’s up to them isn’t it ?

[Bryn]

Because until 2014, the programme was made by Classic Arts, a company with a production team who knew - and cared - about classical music, and the programme focused on the music. Since then, it has been made by Loftus Media, a company consisting of a group of generalist ex-Radio 4 producers, with no music specialists, and an executive producer who used to produce Desert Island Discs.

Spot on! The same sort of nonsense that saw a sports outside broadcast specialist take over the Proms audio engineering for the 2011 season, with consequent heavy dynamic limitation imposed on the first few concerts of the season, including Havergal Brian's 'Gothic' Symphony and Janacek's Glagolitic Mass in its then new critical edition.

[Opinionated Knowall]

At one time the 'private passion' was someone well-known's 'private passion' for classical music, with the odd jazz piece or song from a musical

Because until 2014, the programme was made by Classic Arts, a company with a production team who knew - and cared - about classical music, and the programme focused on the music. Since then, it has been made by Loftus Media, a company consisting of a group of generalist ex-Radio 4 producers, with no music specialists, and an executive producer who used to produce Desert Island Discs.

[eighthobstruction]

If Private Passions is not an opportunity for an ego trip what is it ? I thought Wayne deliciously indiscreet - his Lady Di revelations made the papers - and very amusing. Yes he’s self - obsessed but he’s talent and they tend to be. The work that goes into getting to the top of the ballet tree must be way beyond most peoples comprehension. In the immortal worlds of Max Bialystock “if you’ve got it baby, flaunt it.”

....must admit if I was on 5 0r 6 tracks would be Captain Beefheart

[smittims]

I've always thought that these programmes are at their best when the rubric or premise is followed more literally, i.e. DiD should actually feature the eigth records the person really would choose of they had only them to last the rest of their lives. Similarly 'PP' should be a chance to reveal something private about the person: something we didn't know. Using either programme as self-publicity or hagiography usually makes me switch off early.

[french frank]

Desert Island Discs seems to be made up of records that fit in with the "castaway's" life story.

And my prefence would be for Private Passions to differentiate itself from Desert Island Discs by not focusing on the personal life of the guest - unless, possibly, the life and career are bound up with music. On this last edition it seems that the not-so-private passion was 'space' and the discussion was centred mainly on her life and job, so I'd like less of a 'celebrity' guest and more of a knowledgeable music lover..

[Ein Heldenleben]

....the recent Wayne Sleep one was nothing more than Desert Island Discs....50-75% of which were tracks where Sleep himself was performing....

If Private Passions is not an opportunity for an ego trip what is it ? I thought Wayne deliciously indiscreet - his Lady Di revelations made the papers - and very amusing. Yes he’s self - obsessed but he’s talent and they tend to be. The work that goes into getting to the top of the ballet tree must be way beyond most peoples comprehension. In the immortal worlds of Max Bialystock “if you’ve got it baby, flaunt it.”

[burning dog]

. Sibelius’ ‘Karelia Suite’ as played by the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Jenson would probably figure in both programmes.

I have always loved that version. I still have it on an EP my parents bought.

Desert Island Discs seems to be made up of records that fit in with the "castaway's" life story.