Building a Library - General Discussion

[HighlandDougie]

Returning to my original post I maintain that a R3 version of 'Trbune des Critiques...' would actually make for a damned good programme. A small group of really well-informed guests who are actually allowd to give a real opinion would be wonderful. The French programme really comes alive when a critic gives a negative opinion of an artist who is deemed untouchable in terms of reputation, or a virtual unknown sweeps the board. Bring it on!

Hell mend me for daring to criticise the 'vache sacrée' that is 'Tribune des Critiques' (it was first broadcast by ORTF in 1946 - so meddle with it at one's peril) but it is as limited in format in its own way as BaL. I admit that it can make for entertaining listening but, for those listeners who dislike the "twofer" BaL, the French AMcG (currently Jérémie Rousseau) has then three supposed experts bringing their prejudices to the table. And, boy, can they go on (the programme lasts for two hours), despite M.Rousseau's attempts to keep them in order. And I've never been quite sure about how they go about choosing the six versions. So, much to be said for a single reviewer whittling down versions and then being prepared to explain their choices. If Mahlerfan's reference to Jeremy Sams's illustrations of recordings of 'Daphnis et Chloë' is meant positively in the sense that I found it to be an 'intelligent steer', I much agree with him. But 'Tribune des Critiques' repurposed for a BBC audience, non, non et non! Unless, of course, the idea of David Owen Norris being put in his place (is that even possible?) by Kate Kennedy is appealing. Yes, you could bring that on.

[kernelbogey]

Yes, you could bring that on.

In French, of course...

[kindofblue]

Hell mend me for daring to criticise the 'vache sacrée' that is 'Tribune des Critiques' (it was first broadcast by ORTF in 1946 - so meddle with it at one's peril) but it is as limited in format in its own way as BaL. I admit that it can make for entertaining listening but, for those listeners who dislike the "twofer" BaL, the French AMcG (currently Jérémie Rousseau) has then three supposed experts bringing their prejudices to the table. And, boy, can they go on (the programme lasts for two hours), despite M.Rousseau's attempts to keep them in order. And I've never been quite sure about how they go about choosing the six versions. So, much to be said for a single reviewer whittling down versions and then being prepared to explain their choices. If Mahlerfan's reference to Jeremy Sams's illustrations of recordings of 'Daphnis et Chloë' is meant positively in the sense that I found it to be an 'intelligent steer', I much agree with him. But 'Tribune des Critiques' repurposed for a BBC audience, non, non et non! Unless, of course, the idea of David Owen Norris being put in his place (is that even possible?) by Kate Kennedy is appealing. Yes, you could bring that on.

You make valid points HD, Tribune can go on a bit... but we could do it in our own way. It puts the focus on listening, and people explaining why it does or doesn't work for them. It does produce surprises and the disagreements can be amusing. That's one reason why I enjoy the Christmas edition of RR, you don't always get a consensus amongst the guests. It get so tedious when every presenter thinks that pretty much everything we have just heard is so wonderful.

[Nick Armstrong]

You make valid points HD, Tribune can go on a bit... but we could do it in our own way. It puts the focus on listening, and people explaining why it does or doesn't work for them. It does produce surprises and the disagreements can be amusing. That's one reason why I enjoy the Christmas edition of RR, you don't always get a consensus amongst the guests. It get so tedious when every presenter thinks that pretty much everything we have just heard is so wonderful.

Couldn’t agree more with this

[BBMmk2]

Couldn’t agree more with this

Likewise!

[Lordgeous]

Problem with BAL Podcasts

Is it me or them???

A number of podcasts, when I try to play them, hang fire for a couple of seconds then default to Dido & Aenaes! Much as I love Purcell I occasionally like to indulge in some Moxart or Schubert or....

Anyone else with this problem? Was happening for the last few days, and again today. Eg. Schubert Piano Sonata in B flat major. If its a BBC problem hows would one contact them?

[Andrew Slater]

The Sounds link to the Schubert here seems to work OK. It's awkward wading through the list of podcasts to find it there - could you post a link to the podcast in question?

Edit - found the podcast, and it seems OK.

[Master Jacques]

Whether this will work for you I don't know, but I find that if BBC website URLs start defaulting to weird things, clearing my cookie cache seems to do the trick.

Last week, for example, my bookmark kept taking me to the Scots Gaelic editions of their weather pages, and their RT archives. Clearing the BBC cookie caches solved the problem. So if it's happening to you and not others, it can't do any harm to delete BBC cookies.

Otherwise, you might see whether using a different browser duplicates the problem.

[ucanseetheend]

2 months in and still no symphony

Vocal and Chamber music but the nearest to a non period instrument symphonic work is Lark Ascending. Can see the preferences of senior producers at Record Review. Now its musicians reviewing, Journalists and Musical historians being elbowed out. Just an 18th century sysmphony isnt good enough

[smittims]

I thought at first you were referring to 'Downtime Symphony' (have they played one so far?) but I guess you mean Building a Library.

Pub Quiz trivia: the first BaL in 1957 was a symphony, Beethoven's fifth, and the chosen disc the 1955 Philharmonia/Klemperer, 33C 1051. I still have my copy .

[ucanseetheend]

Um ..its in the Building a library thread

[smittims]

Ah , so! I find it in 'What's New?', so I missed that. nice wry smiley, though.

[mikealdren]

BaL 22.10.22 - Mozart: Symphony no. 31 in D "Paris" (K.297)????

[Pulcinella]

I think that BaL's decline is reflected in the paucity of interest now shown in the threads on this forum.
I don't think that Alpie's even started one off for next week.

[Pulcinella]

2 months in and still no symphony

BaL 22.10.22 - Mozart: Symphony no. 31 in D "Paris" (K.297)????