Building a Library - General Discussion

[pastoralguy]

More a case of a pleasant "We're very interested in what you have to say", but with no effect on the decisions already made.

I'm sorry that I've upset some Forumistas who admire AMcG - but because I do not wish to upset anyone here; I don't think my comments will cause him, or anyone at the Beeb, any distress. I don't withdraw my criticisms - the changes at BaL have ruined a favourite programme for me - but I apologise to all Forumistas who have been annoyed by them.

Oh no, ferney, I don't disagree with you. I really DON'T like these 'twofers' but I'd doubt its Andrew McGergor's fault. Having recently taken early retirement from the NHS due to being forced by management to implement policies I don't agree with, I can certainly empathise.

[sidneyfox]

I really must protest at the venom that's being thrown in Andrew McGregor's direction. We really don't know the circumstances behind these 'twofers' although I suspect that he's simply following orders from on high. In which case, why not write to the controller of Radio3 and express your feelings to him?

I appreciate these 'discussions' are not ideal and I do prefer the individual reviewers being given their head and being allowed to give their opinions unchallenged. I often suspect that these BaLs were recorded well in advance.

And don't forget that no one is forcing us to purchase the 'winner'. It's simply the personal opinion of one critic.

BaLs are usually good whether they are single delivery or otherwise. For me, it doesn't matter and I usually buy something that catches my ear on the programme rather than the final recommendation. There might be a consensus in the forum for a preference for a single delivery BaL, but that might be unrepresentative of the wider audience. R3 doesn't take much notice of this forum anyway - given our age profile, who can blame them?

[Dave2002]

And I'm just longing for the time when, on a live duologue, the reviewer would flagrantly disagree with the pre-planned direction of travel, e.g.

AMcG "Doesn't Bolokovski bring a wonderful transparency to the texture of that middle movement?"
ANOther "No. I find it incredibly muddy."
AMcG "And his tempi are so....PARDON? What did you say????"

[edashtav]

Oh no, ferney, I don't disagree with you. I really DON'T like these 'twofers' but I'd doubt its Andrew McGergor's fault. Having recently taken early retirement from the NHS due to being forced by management to implement policies I don't agree with, I can certainly empathise.

I feel that many of us are responding as 'friends of Andrew McGregor': he has been cast into a subordinate role in which his knowledge and experience are neutered. To use an analogy he is like the 'feed', the straight guy in a comedy duo, who merely sets up the situation for the 'funnyone' to exploit. We boarders are riled by the falsity of the twofer conversations.

[mikealdren]

Yes edashtav, it's not just a conversation or an interview, it's the false, scripted nature of it that is the final nail in the coffin.

[Mal]

... he has been cast into a subordinate role in which his knowledge and experience are neutered.... he is like the 'feed', the straight guy in a comedy duo, who merely sets up the situation for the 'funnyone' to exploit...

He comes across worse than a 'straight man', more of a 'yes man'.

[doversoul1]

How very sad that we have come to talk about Andrew McGergor in this way.

[pastoralguy]

How very sad that we have come to talk about Andrew McGergor in this way.

Absolutely!

[edashtav]

He comes across worse than a 'straight man', more of a 'yes man'.

"Yes, indeed, Mal!" the yes man is bound to say.

[DracoM]

So why do they not / why - apparently - does HE not agitate for being given a full-on solo BAL?
Or is he being cast as the public donkey being led by experts?

[Beresford]

I have always liked AM's short comments, so long as you know to read between the lines.

My guess is that the twofer was introduced to make it sound less like someone reading out an essay, more like Melvyn Bragg on R4's In Our Time. And who would want to listen to any or all of Melvyn's experts talking solo for 45 minutes?

[Mal]

My guess is that the twofer was introduced to make it sound less like someone reading out an essay, more like Melvyn Bragg on R4's In Our Time. And who would want to listen to any or all of Melvyn's experts talking solo for 45 minutes?

Their students? Me? I have happily listened to Bernstein, and others, talk about music for forty five minutes. Or Carl Sagan in Astronomy, Feynman in physics, Will Self on "the death of the novel", etc., the list goes on and on. In fact I often search you tube for real experts lecturing alone for forty five minutes, or more, because radio 3/4 don't give them enough time to develop their thoughts. And what about books, they are, basically, one expert talking to you for several hours.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And who would want to listen to any or all of Melvyn's experts talking solo for 45 minutes?

Me. (Depending on thne "espert", of course.) But you may have hit upon whatever passes for the rationale behind the introduction and gradual taking over of the twofer format - the Beeb doesn't believe that anyone is capable of listening to a "lecture" any more.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Their students? Me? I have happily listened to Bernstein, and others, talk about music for forty five minutes. Or Carl Sagan in Astronomy, Feynman in physics, Will Self on "the death of the novel", etc., the list goes on and on. In fact I often search you tube for real experts lecturing alone for forty five minutes, or more, because radio 3/4 don't give them enough time to develop their thoughts.

[Study Session]

The format of BAL seems to vary; sometimes it's a monologue, other occasions a reviewer being steered by AMG in a (semi-scripted?) chat. I much prefer the former, but wonder if less confident broadcasters fare better in the latter?