Building a Library - General Discussion

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Michael Oliver and John Steane were (and Richard Osborne still is) superb commentators on Music and performance, their relaxed learning easily persuading the listener that their selections were at the very least worthy of inclusion in any self-respecting record collection. But they had an easier job than "the current crop": there were fewer recordings to review, what was available and what deleted was more easily catalogued and there weren't as many HIPP versions to consider alongside the Klemperers and Amadeuses.

I think reviewers today acknowledge that, if professional Musicians perform and record a piece, then they must feel that they have something valid to say about it, and with so many alternatives available, it is unfair for the reviewer to plump for any single recording. They have become more "diplomatic", to the extent that (particularly when they get together for a group review) they can seem to be suggesting that every available disc is worth having! Which may be true, but makes the very basis of BaL unworkable (and often ends up with my not buying any of the discs mentioned).

It would perhaps be more useful nowadays if reviewers pointed out the ones to avoid!

[Alison]

I so agree about dear Michael Oliver who died as long ago as 2002.

He was always so interesting and yet not at all self aware.

Of the current rosta maybe Sir Jonathan Swain comes closest to that quiet and dignified authority.

[Karafan]

Aah, yes Alison and Ferney - I agree. JS and RO had inexplicably slipped my mind, but are also satisfyingly 'old school' and are always a rewarding listen (or read).

[Alison]

An excellent obituary here for Michael:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2002/dec/05/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks, Alison; he was my favourite broadcaster from when I first heard him in 1974 and somewhere I have a cassette of his last edition of Music Weekly.

It was nothing short of a disaster for any intelligent listener when the philistine hands in charge of Radio 3 in the late 1990s decided, more or less, to dispense with his services as a presenter

Well, quite (not to mention some of us lesser intellects)!

[Karafan]

Thanks, Alison; he was my favourite broadcaster from when I first heard him in 1974 and somewhere I have a cassette of his last edition of Music Weekly.

It was nothing short of a disaster for any intelligent listener when the philistine hands in charge of Radio 3 in the late 1990s decided, more or less, to dispense with his services as a presenter
Well, quite (not to mention some of us lesser intellects)!

Seconded. And what is it they say about those who do not learn from history being condemned, forever, to repeat it. Hmmmm......

[VodkaDilc]

I recall some excellent reviews given by Nicholas Anderson, the doyen of Bach reviewers. Simon Heighes seems to be to be his more recent equal. (Though, as far as I remember NA is still reviewing for IRR, so why not on R3? A little too well-spoken for the tastes of current R3 management? I do hope not!)

[Alison]

There have been comebacks from Richard Osborne, Robert Phillip and Geoffrey Norris -
so why not Nicholas Anderson too ?

[amateur51]

There have been comebacks from Richard Osborne, Robert Phillip and Geoffrey Norris -
so why not Nicholas Anderson too ?

I'm so glad that you mentioned Robert Philip, Alison. For me he's streets ahead of Richard Osborne because he seems to be able to take on a lot of recordings and make his way through them making sensible points either for or against as he goes wheras recently RO has rather loftily dismissed some recordings without a reasonable explanation as to why. I prefer RP's broadcasting voice too but that's a personal preference (actually it's an aversion to RO )

What about Stephen Plaistow, a piano specialist and a rather good broadcasting style, I've always thought.

Who else remembers & misses Joan Chisell the Schumann specialist?

[Alison]

I like Stephen Plaistow - and rather wish his repertoire extended to orchestral stuff too.

Different class to Stephen Johnson and (especially) Edward Seckerson.

Again he has the ability to talk and write interestingly about the music under review.

So he reviews a batch of six piano discs - and I probably end up buying all of them !

[aeolium]

Who else remembers & misses Joan Chisell the Schumann specialist?

Me for one, am51. And what about Misha Donat (who doesn't seem to review that much on radio these days) and Jan Smazcny?

I thought Michael Oliver was the nonpareil - incredible how R3 could have sidelined him.

[Parry1912]

I prefer RP's broadcasting voice too but that's a personal preference

Am I the only one then who thinks he sounds like Victor Meldrew?

I keep expecting him to say: "No exposition repeat! I don't believe it!"

[rauschwerk]

I thought Michael Oliver was the nonpareil - incredible how R3 could have sidelined him.

Surely you know he died in 2002?

[verismissimo]

Of the younger generation, Peter Quantrill is surely the most promising.

[aeolium]

Surely you know he died in 2002?

rauschwerk, I did know Michael Oliver died in 2002. I was referring to the way he was sidelined in the 1990s (as mentioned in Alan Blyth's obituary and earlier in this thread).