Berta Joncus on this Saturday's CD Review...

[Ariosto]

Last I heard, Ariosto has left the building, RT.

Well I did think of leaving permanenly, but as there are some really nice, intelligent and well educated people on here I decided to remain. And the doc told me today I might last a few more months. I'm more worried about Bonnie who has to see the vet today as she has developed a bad limp (probably from chasing music critics ... and maybe she bit a conductor when I wasn't looking, so may have done her front leg in).

[Richard Tarleton]

I hope you and Bonnie keep eachother going for a while yet, ariosto.

[HighlandDougie]

I'm more worried about Bonnie who has to see the vet today as she has developed a bad limp (probably from chasing music critics ... and maybe she bit a conductor when I wasn't looking, so may have done her front leg in).

Clearly reacting to the words "Mark" and "Elder" being uttered by her lord and master. Hope that Bonnie is OK. Beth, the black lab who takes me for walks when I'm in Scotland, has a pin in her front leg and is none the worse for it.

[mikealdren]

Personally I find it difficult to choose between Heifetz, Milstein and Kreisler as to who is the greatest.

I would put Oistrakh in that group too and Grumiaux thereabouts. I find it very hard to compare modern players with them, technically there are many players at the same level and musically some are terrific too but the list above had such character without trying to be different.

I'm getting off topic, I know.

Mike

[Ariosto]

I would put Oistrakh in that group too and Grumiaux thereabouts. I find it very hard to compare modern players with them, technically there are many players at the same level and musically some are terrific too but the list above had such character without trying to be different.

I'm getting off topic, I know.

Mike

Yes, when I wrote my piece I realised i had missed Oistrakh out. He's so damned close that one can't ignore him. Fantastic musician. Although I hold Grumiaux very high in the fiddles steaks - meaty but still great - He's in the same category for me as quite a few others such as Francescatti etc.

[Ariosto]

I hope you and Bonnie keep eachother going for a while yet, ariosto.

Bonnie is OK thanks, just been diag-nosed (good nose) with a strained elbow. And there we were convinced it was the paw on the other leg! So anti-inflamatory pills and three days of rest. Oh dear - we were looking forward to some great walks in good and improving weather.

The doc said I wasn't too bad, but don't expect to go on for more than six months, (the coffin is beimg designed as I write) and also drink a bit less, and stop chasing those young ladies. (Oh dear - I've said it again ...) So i've limited myself to two thirds of a bottle of wine and only three of the other ... (per night). The day is a different thing altogether though.

[Ariosto]

Well I did think of leaving permanenly, but as there are some really nice, intelligent and well educated people on here I decided to remain. And the doc told me today I might last a few more months. I'm more worried about Bonnie who has to see the vet today as she has developed a bad limp (probably from chasing music critics ... and maybe she bit a conductor when I wasn't looking, so may have done her front leg in).

Mind you, I probably will leave soon, especially as I heard some of the BBC Young Musicians again tonight (woodwind) and they chose one of the worst players in my opinion. So any connection with that disreputable and totally amateur setup must be a bad thing. So by association with the BBC in any way is not good.

[mikealdren]

Mind you, I probably will leave soon, especially as I heard some of the BBC Young Musicians again tonight (woodwind) and they chose one of the worst players in my opinion. So any connection with that disreputable and totally amateur setup must be a bad thing. So by association with the BBC in any way is not good.

I thought they got the string finalist wrong too, it was close but for me, the chosen winner was in clear last position.

Mike

[pastoralguy]

Ok. Here we go. Now be NICE!

[verismissimo]

Ok. Here we go. Now be NICE!

After all, that's the Bottom Line, according to Dame Edna.

[Thropplenoggin]

Sounds like Gardiner's punchy conducting has really got the Monteverdis and Baroque Soloists whipped into shape.

.

.

.

(See eyes passim)

[HARRIET HAVARD]

Must agree with you regarding Young Musician. Have been following this for years, and have noticed the standards dropping.. This years "crop" without exception really seem to have reached rock bottom. Wonder how they are chosen to be on the show? Surely not, like some Radio3 presenters. Daddy knows someone who knows someone. As with so many professional musicians of the past twenty years or so, most have a technical competance, but musically they leave something to be desired. Had the misfortune recently to attend a recital by Freddie Kampf, for example. He was note perfect. But seemed to have absolutely no feeling for the music. He seemed to think everthing should be approached as though it was Beethoven...Even Ravel. Of course maybe he had a bad day. But these shortcomings are all too obvoius in his recordings. Like Lang Lang, and many others, ideal for the "charts" maybe. The spirit of Semprini is alive and well.

[Ariosto]

Bach and Ms Joncus

Well, she did OK today in the Bach BaL today.

I love the music of Bach and one or two of the performances on record, or CD. But I come from a diametrically opposed viewpoint, which means I can’t like the performances which she claims are historically informed. (She must have been around in Bach’s time?)

The phrasing and sound are mostly (not all) alien to my understanding.

For example in one of the excerpts the HIP band (woodwind) played a repeated phrase which had a long note followed by a short note (possibly dotted crotchet quaver). These players all got louder (i.e. crescendoed) on the long note. For my taste I would have liked a decrescendo on the long note.

But this just emphasises the great divide between HIP and Non HIP devotees - and I am in no way saying one side is wrong or right. It is just a totally different approach, and as far as it goes both camps are right.

So I would never agree with Ms Joncus on her choice of performers, but I realise that she has her own preferences as I do.

So it will never be that pro-HIP and anti-HIP will ever agree - which is probably pretty healthy.

Is Ms Joncus from the United Staes? (Just asking, her accent is intriguing).

Final note: the violinist she praised so highly in that solo bit did nothing for me. It was OK, but that was about it. Just my opinion - probably not worth much.

P S I did not hear everything as I was moving between car radio and kitchen DAB thingy.

[Ariosto]

Poor old Berta is being ignored by everyone on this forum bar me. Come on, let's give her some response or are you all post mortum?

[pastoralguy]

Poor old Berta is being ignored by everyone on this forum bar me. Come on, let's give her some response or are you all post mortum?

Thank you for your positive contribution's, Ariosto.

I enjoyed the music on this portion of the show today and I have to take Ms. Joncus's assertions on trust since it's not really my area of interest.

Please keep the comments coming!