BaL 4.07.15 - Rodgers: Carousel

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I thought the broadcast hit rock-bottom when one of them referred to "the football song".

[Don Basilio]

Carousel was never my favourite R & S musical, and I’m not sure that this sort of thing should be in BAL.

I didn’t mean to listen to the whole programme but I was waiting for someone else to finish in the bathroom and listened while I played patience on my ipad, so I was only half listening.

I report that I was in tears at the end – first for the Soliloquy and then for the football song. Having heard You’ll never walk alone a week ago in the NT Everyman as an example of facile optimism, I was very, very moved by it as an expression of hope in dire circumstances.

I found Edward Seckerspn’s enthusiasm infectious. I’m not bothered about different versions – but I never am as long as they aren’t dire.

[VodkaDilc]

I recorded BAL this morning and have listened to the first twenty minutes or so. My first huge disappointment was that it was a 'cosy chat' format. Ed Seckerson is hugely experienced as a broadcaster and an acknowledged authority in this field - (I will not touch on the matter of whether it belongs on BAL at this stage. Perhaps it needs a separate programme for this sort of repertoire - "Stage and Screen" might be a good title.) So why does he need Mr McGregor interrupting and slowing things down?

So far I'm enjoying it. I've got the remastered film CD and have various songs in other recordings. I will be looking forward to Ed's choice and his informed remarks on the piece (when he's allowed to get a word in.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Here's an idea....if there are a number of recorded versions of certain musicals, why then doesn't Radio 2 have its own BAL programme for such works?

That would be sensible. They couldn"t possibly do that.

[VodkaDilc]

I recorded BAL this morning and have listened to the first twenty minutes or so. My first huge disappointment was that it was a 'cosy chat' format. Ed Seckerson is hugely experienced as a broadcaster and an acknowledged authority in this field - (I will not touch on the matter of whether it belongs on BAL at this stage. Perhaps it needs a separate programme for this sort of repertoire - "Stage and Screen" might be a good title.) So why does he need Mr McGregor interrupting and slowing things down?

So far I'm enjoying it. I've got the remastered film CD and have various songs in other recordings. I will be looking forward to Ed's choice and his informed remarks on the piece (when he's allowed to get a word in.)

Having now heard the complete programme, I thought that it was really worth listening to. The main drawbacks were the presence of AM, as previously mentioned, and the obviously small field of recordings. It soon became clear that nothing would beat the film score, though it was enjoyable to hear the variety of approaches.

isn't it time that the awful conversational BALs were abanbdoned. Does anyone prefer that format?

[VodkaDilc]

As a presenter foot-in-mouth, it ranks with Dimbleby R's, "Jesus wept". Which might well be the listeners' reply to Mr Seckerson.

Didn't Natalie Wheen produce a few clangers?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

isn't it time that the awful conversational BALs were abanbdoned. Does anyone prefer that format?

As I said earlier, there's no reason why Andrew shouldn't do a BaL himself (and I think he'd be extremely good) rather disturbing someone else's.

[Alison]

As I said earlier, there's no reason why Andrew shouldn't do a BaL himself (and I think he'd be extremely good) rather disturbing someone else's.

Wonder where his specialism would reside? He does seem pretty much an all rounder. (Maybe not contemporary stuff))

[mikealdren]

Didn't Natalie Wheen produce a few clangers?

I think they tended to be carefully planned......................

[VodkaDilc]

I think they tended to be carefully planned......................

She (Natalie Wheen) is very much missed in this house (whichever station she was on).