Building a Library - General Discussion

[BBMmk2]

I think I am gradually veering over to the single presenter being judge nand jury here. I know this rather limnits things, butin essence it gets less confusing, imo.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wonder how board members might choose to do a BaL , if asked?

Certainly not a "live" one.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I would invite a respected authority on the composer concerned (preferably an academic with published writings on the composer) into a studio equipped with excellent hifi facilities and with all readily available recordings - with labels and other identifiable material blanked out. They could spend as long as they needed to chose, and the missing performers' details filled into the script after the choices have been made. The final script would then be recorded.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

In principle, that would be a great idea, Ferney, but isn't there a danger that such an expert might know many of the "blind" recordings. In the case of vocal works, many singers are easily identifiable by large numbers in the 'classical family'.

But it would be worth trying.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Indeed - to say nothing of the temptation to enjoy BBC hospitality under the "take as long as you need" offer! You're right - anyone "doing", say, Das Lied von der Erde would (or should) identify Ferrier, Baker, Ludwig, Fischer-Dieskau instantly - but it might give the less well-known recordings a "bunk-up".

[Nick Armstrong]

In principle, that would be a great idea, Ferney, but isn't there a danger that such an expert might know many of the "blind" recordings. In the case of vocal works, many singers are easily identifiable by large numbers in the 'classical family'.

Interestingly (perhaps), the 'blind tasting' of the French critics on 'Tribune des Critiques...' on France-Musique is often suspended for opera or song recordings, since it's assumed that they will recognise sufficient of the singers to make it pointless.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

pointless.

Now there's a novel approach:

We gave one hundred listeners one hundred seconds to name as many recordings of The Planets as they could. If you can name one which nobody identified, that's the one we recommend.



I think you've just identified DON's modus operandi!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Now there's a novel approach:

We gave one hundred listeners one hundred seconds to name as many recordings of The Planets as they could. If you can name one which nobody identified, that's the one we recommend.



I think you've just identified DON's modus operandi!

[ardcarp]

I do hate to be serious about this after such badinage, but

The prevailing view was a conservative one, typical perhaps of this Forum

Ouch.

My strong dislike is not born of an inability to cope with 'change', but

1. There is less time to play and compare examples
2. The dialogue is to some extent pre-planned (obviously, as musical extracts have to be played) but they pretend it isn't.
3. AMcG's attempts o sound spontaneous are cringeworthy
4. A long programme needs some relief from one presenter's..... AMcG's.....voice
5. A good reviewer (maybe just an entertaining reviewer) can do a better job if he can hone his script.
6. False bonhommie is out of place....it was forced bonhommie with RC on Saturday...we get enough on R3

[Nick Armstrong]

Ouch.

I did add 'perhaps' !

[doversoul1]

Radio 3’s listeners deserve at least one serious, solid, and undiluted review a week, surely? A review is a result of the reviewer’s thought process which does not need prompting on presentation.

I enjoyed Rob’s BaL despite the format, and wouldn’t miss it (the format) if this were the last.

[antongould]

I wonder how board members might choose to do a BaL , if asked?

I'd phone a friend.....

[Don Petter]

Indeed - to say nothing of the temptation to enjoy BBC hospitality under the "take as long as you need" offer!

You could view it the other way, and say 'You're in there until you come up with a viable script ...'

[Barbirollians]

I quite like the idea of BBM's judge and jury approach - the reviewer is faced with 12 angry members of this forum who rip the reviewer's choice to shreds and wistfully explain their preference for Schuricht, Roy Goodman or Furtwangler ...

[ardcarp]

You're in there until you come up with a viable script

I think that actually happened to Dylan Thomas when producer Douglas Cleverdon locked him in the BBC Library (with no booze) for several nights until he completed Under Milkwood.