What is the point of "Brief Notes" ?

[zola]

The Brief Notes in question being the page of snippet sized reviews in BBC Music magazine. two cases in point from the current issue, both snippets by Michael Tanner. He writes this about Jaap van Zweden and the the Netherlands Radio PO recording of Bruckner's 3rd symphony : "Jaap van Zweden is now the leading interpreter of Bruckner's symphonies and has trained his orchestra to perform them brilliantly. This is a leading recommendation."

And that's it. Surely such an accolade deserves more prominence and greater detail to back it up ? By contrast, there is this savaging of Frans Bruggen and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century's new disc of Mendelssohn's third and fourth symphonies : "I have never heard worse performances than these, with scarcely audible strings and harsh barking wind, brass especially, which make a mockery of this music." Again, that is the complete "review". One star awarded.

But exactly what makes this so dreadful ? Is it Bruggen's interpretation and concept of the music ? The incompetance of the players ? Or the fault of the recording quality ? Were they live concert or studio performances ?

Think there is a need for a CD review programme to give listeners the chance to make their own judgement !

[french frank]

Surprised no one's commented on this. 'Brief Notes' of this calibre seem to have no point at all. Worth a Brief Note to that effect to the editor, I should think.

[Alison]

I've often found J v Z disappointing and Michael Tanner somewhat unreliable.

[mathias broucek]

The Brief Notes in question being the page of snippet sized reviews in BBC Music magazine. two cases in point from the current issue, both snippets by Michael Tanner. He writes this about Jaap van Zweden and the the Netherlands Radio PO recording of Bruckner's 3rd symphony : "Jaap van Zweden is now the leading interpreter of Bruckner's symphonies and has trained his orchestra to perform them brilliantly. This is a leading recommendation."

And that's it. Surely such an accolade deserves more prominence and greater detail to back it up ? By contrast, there is this savaging of Frans Bruggen and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century's new disc of Mendelssohn's third and fourth symphonies : "I have never heard worse performances than these, with scarcely audible strings and harsh barking wind, brass especially, which make a mockery of this music." Again, that is the complete "review". One star awarded.

But exactly what makes this so dreadful ? Is it Bruggen's interpretation and concept of the music ? The incompetance of the players ? Or the fault of the recording quality ? Were they live concert or studio performances ?

Think there is a need for a CD review programme to give listeners the chance to make their own judgement !

I "get" the idea of a short "don't bother" review like the Bruggen. But a rave review needs to be justified. If there wasn't room, they should have carried it over!

[DublinJimbo]

I "get" the idea of a short "don't bother" review like the Bruggen. But a rave review needs to be justified. If there wasn't room, they should have carried it over!

Surely both positive and negative need to be justified. Reviews of this nature are utterly useless.

[richardfinegold]

I've often found J v Z disappointing and Michael Tanner somewhat unreliable.

I enjoyed J v Z Brahms cycle/

[Ferretfancy]

The Guardian has of reviews about half a dozen CDs every Friday, usually by Andrew Clements. He tends to focus on contemporary works, but even then is sniffy about half of them. With this indifferent coverage, why review at all ?

[french frank]

The Guardian has of reviews about half a dozen CDs every Friday, usually by Andrew Clements. He tends to focus on contemporary works, but even then is sniffy about half of them. With this indifferent coverage, why review at all ?

But even moreso where, as zola points out, the entire review is encapsulated in 24 words. That's like throwing a stone and then running away.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've often found ... Michael Tanner somewhat unreliable.

So have I - perhaps the "point" of BN is to spare readers the discomfort of reading his blinkered opinions at length?

[zola]

So have I - perhaps the "point" of BN is to spare readers the discomfort of reading his blinkered opinions at length?

Just to clarify, various reviewers feature on the page of brief notes. It is just that the two extreme examples there both happened to be from Michael Tanner but all share the same brevity.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just to clarify, various reviewers feature on the page of brief notes. It is just that the two extreme examples there both happened to be from Michael Tanner but all share the same brevity.

Indeed, I was being facetious (I am not an admirer of Elsie) - I think the misguided idea is that there is insufficient room in the magazine to include full-length reviews of every CD, so a quick comment is deemed sufficient for some.

[Petrushka]

Surely both positive and negative need to be justified. Reviews of this nature are utterly useless.

Agree with DublinJimbo here. Mind, I take little notice of reviewers these days preferring to make my own judgements or listen to one or two I trust on here.