Good for you, Rob

[Pegleg]

Dare I say that I thought the Bach cantata was appalling? Apart from having the sainted KF in it that is. The tenor sounded like a 1940s naval officer. Dives for cover.

Totally agree. Delighted to see R3 are gving us Bach Cantatas in liturgical order, but this? Sung in English, and most of the text was impossible to make out. Of all the recordings they could have played, this choice left me preplexed. Maybe some Glass silence would have be preferable.

Anyway, I got my revenge and listened to every version of BWV 67 I could find at the Tube place.

[ardcarp]

I want to hear music not trivia from R3

I think most would agree with your dislike of trivia, Black Swan, and I suspect most would prefer mornings on 3 to be more like Through the Night, i.e. mostly music with short, opinion-free announcements.

I don't wholly share your 'downer' on Rob. I see him as a hugely knowledgeable and experienced guy who has to some extent prostituted himself to the new R3 brand. That's why I was so gleeful at a glimmer of the old Rob showing through yesterday. I quite understand that you aren't keen on the old Rob either, but if we have to be served up trivia these days, I'd personally prefer it from Rob than from some who probably aren't gushing air-heads really but.......

[Panjandrum]

Listening to Rob Cowan these days, doing his best to be "chatty" and "matey", I am continuously reminded of that description of the Westbury White Horse as a "vaguely dispirited animal awaiting the knacker's gun."

[MrGongGong]

But I would prefer a more neutral approach generally, without a doubt

Neutral ?
surely one would like an informed, knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic presentation ?

[cloughie]

I think most would agree with your dislike of trivia, Black Swan, and I suspect most would prefer mornings on 3 to be more like Through the Night, i.e. mostly music with short, opinion-free announcements.

I don't wholly share your 'downer' on Rob. I see him as a hugely knowledgeable and experienced guy who has to some extent prostituted himself to the new R3 brand. That's why I was so gleeful at a glimmer of the old Rob showing through yesterday. I quite understand that you aren't keen on the old Rob either, but if we have to be served up trivia these days, I'd personally prefer it from Rob than from some who probably aren't gushing air-heads really but.......

I don't think Rob has changed so much as what he has been asked to present. I would like to see Essential Classics being more like CD Masters - why was it fixed when it wasn't broken, Roger? I would like to see Breakfast more like the Penny Gore Morning on 3- why was it fixed when it wasn't broken, Roger?

[Ferretfancy]

The great thing about CD masters was that it did involve itself with its listeners, you could submit requests for example. What it did not do was encourage trivial emails or telephone comments, or if it did receive them they were not broadcast. This meant that Rob, could make full use of his great expertise without having to sink into a sludge of triteness. I would also like to put in a word for Jonathan Swain, is he still with us elsewhere on the network?

[cloughie]

The great thing about CD masters was that it did involve itself with its listeners, you could submit requests for example. What it did not do was encourage trivial emails or telephone comments, or if it did receive them they were not broadcast. This meant that Rob, could make full use of his great expertise without having to sink into a sludge of triteness. I would also like to put in a word for Jonathan Swain, is he still with us elsewhere on the network?

JS still does some continuity and announcing and has the occasional input into CD Review. He and Rob complemented each other well on CDM, different presentation styles and personal choices of performers and repertoire. What was that Mary Hopkin song again?