Review of the year

[Barbirollians]

Yes, or Stephen Johnson or David Nice. Too much similarity of choices today. There is scope for a second session of this each year, rather than AMcG reviewing the year's Christmas releases for instance.

I found no problem with the reviewers - a touch of unconscious sexism going on here I think .

I found more of an issue with their choices - a rather unbalanced and worthy selection heavily biased in favour of early music .

[Bryn]

I found no problem with the reviewers - a touch of unconscious sexism going on here I think .

I found more of an issue with their choices - a rather unbalanced and worthy selection heavily biased in favour of early music .

Other than my not thinking of Bach or Vivaldi as early music composers, I would agree with that. I also agree with the choice of the David Watkin Cello Suites survey, and the criticism of his lack of variation in the repeats. Still superb though.

[Barbirollians]

Yes they did sound superb especially the extract from the Sixth Suite . That pretentious harpsichord disc on the other hand ! Gorecki's Harpsichord Concerto sounded like a particularly unpleasant firm of aural torture .

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes they did sound superb especially the extract from the Sixth Suite . That pretentious harpsichord disc on the other hand ! Gorecki's Harpsichord Concerto sounded like a particularly unpleasant firm of aural torture .

Yes.... and a great phrase from one of the critics, about the Gorecki:

"stressful without being interesting"

... which puts in a nutshell my reaction to all sorts of minimalism, and which I made a point of remembering!

[zola]

I found no problem with the reviewers - a touch of unconscious sexism going on here I think .

I found more of an issue with their choices - a rather unbalanced and worthy selection heavily biased in favour of early music .

Since it was my message that was quoted in the above, I would make it clear that I too had no problem with the reviewers only the lack of breadth in their choices. Which is why I put forward that the review of the year could extend into a second session, perhaps with reviewers whose interest might encompass piano, song and chamber music for instance, rather than a review of "seasonal releases" of dubious quality which I imagine would excite nobody.

[verismissimo]

... I also agree with the choice of the David Watkin Cello Suites survey, and the criticism of his lack of variation in the repeats. Still superb though.

I'd be interested in other responses to David Watkin's Bach.

[verismissimo]

... I would make it clear that I too had no problem with the reviewers only the lack of breadth in their choices. Which is why I put forward that the review of the year could extend into a second session, perhaps with reviewers whose interest might encompass piano, song and chamber music for instance, rather than a review of "seasonal releases" of dubious quality which I imagine would excite nobody.

Yes, and perhaps some opera choices beyond a release of 'best bits' of Alessandro Scarlatti.

[Barbirollians]

Yes, and perhaps some opera choices beyond a release of 'best bits' of Alessandro Scarlatti.

We did have the Pappano recording of Aida too .

[verismissimo]

We did have the Pappano recording of Aida too .

Yes, Barbs, but not within 'Discs of the Year'...

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes, Barbs, but not within 'Discs of the Year'...

Yes it was - the whole programme starting from 9.05 (save for BAL) was given over to that exercise, and the 'Aida' was introduced as " Flora Wilson's first 'Disc of the Year' " ... so the Nielsen 1 & 3 which started the show was likewise one of the selected 'DoY' ...

[Barbirollians]

Yes it was - the whole programme starting from 9.05 (save for BAL) was given over to that exercise, and the 'Aida' was introduced as " Flora Wilson's first 'Disc of the Year' " ... so the Nielsen 1 & 3 which started the show was likewise one of the selected 'DoY' ...

Talking of which I think Flora W was spot on abount the Oramo disc from the extracts played . The Third sounded terrific - the First very stodgy

[verismissimo]

Yes it was - the whole programme starting from 9.05 (save for BAL) was given over to that exercise...

Oops!