BaL 4.07.15 - Rodgers: Carousel

[Loathecliff]

I didn't realise they were doing Mahler songs?

Hmm, Mahler 2 - Radio 2. I do believe I am controller material.

[gurnemanz]

Hiya MC,

Yes, its the sort of music Radio 2 successfully programmes in the evenings which is a much better fit than Radio 3.

I agree that it does not need to be done on R3, but I never listen to R2, so I wouldn't here it. Disparaging comments above about the work itself are fair enough (I actually rather like it) but can't see that comments like: "Old ES should get over himself really" are worth posting.

[french frank]

but can't see that comments like: "Old ES should get over himself really" are worth posting.

Reportedly, ES said listeners who objected to the work being on BaL should 'Get over themselves'.

[Nick Armstrong]

Reportedly, ES said listeners who objected to the work being on BaL should 'Get over themselves'.

He did just that.

[french frank]

He did just that.

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

[Padraig]

What the hell is radio2 material doing on my one-time sanctuary? (Q is rhetorical)

Does'nt this look like a case for Bond - James Bond?

[gradus]

Breaking step I'm afraid, I belong to the seeming minority interest on here that this BAL was aimed at. I think it's a major musical work of melodic and lyric genius that is deservedly popular, none of which disqualifies it from R3 imv. Edward Seckerson is an expert on the music theatre and I don't blame him at all for his reported remark.
I daresay it 'll be a while before the rest of the R and H ouevre is on BAL but no doubt West Side Story, G and S, Fledermaus, Merry Widow etc will pop up again at some point - another outcry then?

[Flosshilde]

I'm sure it will - I'll look forward to it

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I found some of the broadcast interesting, but not up to the standard we might expect from BaL.

Clearly AMcG enjoys these interventionist BaLs, so I wonder whether a sensible compromise might be for him to do the occasional BaL himself, rather than this unsatisfactory arrangement.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I daresay it 'll be a while before the rest of the R and H ouevre is on BAL but no doubt West Side Story, G and S, Fledermaus, Merry Widow etc will pop up again at some point - another outcry then?

WSS was featured on BaL last year (8th March) - also presented by the not-quite-over-himself Seckerson. There was no "outcry".

[verismissimo]

It's not just that R2 doesn't broadcast this sort of stuff - neither does R3 nor Classic FM. In effect, there's currently no broadcast outlet for light operas/operettas/opera comiques/musicals.

I've been listening with pleasure recently to Auber, Lecocq, Audran and others of Parisian 19th century.

[teamsaint]

He did just that.

It was inane and unhelpful, and a will have been a bit offensive to some people.

the important point , of course, is that he could have said something positive , such as " Well I really hope those people stay with us and enjoy some great music, in top class performances, that has stood the test of time."
or something.

[DracoM]

WSS is a heck of a better show......IMO of course.

[Alison]

It was inane and unhelpful, and a will have been a bit offensive to some people.

the important point , of course, is that he could have said something positive , such as " Well I really hope those people stay with us and enjoy some great music, in top class performances, that has stood the test of time."
or something.

Well said Sainty. Exactly the point.

[MickyD]

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?