BaL 5.12.20 - Strauss: Horn Concerto no. 2

[Pulcinella]

Really? I would imagine that an expert in the subject would at least potentially have some fascinating things to say about the work, knowing it so to speak from the inside. Yes she probably has some strong ideas about interpretation, but, as we're all aware, so do many music critics, often with less reason!

As do many of us armchair critics, possibly with even less reason.

Provided that she is not the soloist in one if the recordings in contention, which would presumably rule her out from being the reviewer, one would hope that she would be as objective as Jeremy Summerly is in his choral BaL slots, as he probably has strong views on how he would conduct a piece, but he does his blind listening first and generally makes very pertinent comments.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This is not a piece I know and as far as I can remember I have never heard it - live, broadcast or recorded. I do, however, question the use of a distinguished horn player to review a horn concerto (I also note that a clarinettist is reviewing the copland next week). I am sure that Sarah Willis has played the concerto herself and will therefore have strong views on how it should be played, which will affect her judgement on others' performances. Please can we have fewer performers reviewing recordings - magazines such as Gramophone do not have reviews from active performers!

The Strauss Oboe Concerto BaL was reviewed by a distinguished oboist, and the result was one of the best programmes in recent years. Isn't it better to have an "expert" doing the reviewing, rather than an "armchair activist"? I'm not decrying music critics, but most of these also have their own strong personal viewpoints. Professional critic vs professional musician? It's good to hear from both. In this instance, we shall have both (twofer).

[Nick Armstrong]

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dic...nglish/fulsome

I know some contemporary usage has 'fulsome' meaning 'generous' : it more often historically - and for most even now - implies egregious flattery.
Just need to know how you were using this tricky word...

.

Very much ‘generous’ rather than ‘egregious’ !

[Tony Halstead]

Whereas Simon Rattle, like all conductors , shuns the limelight...

[jayne lee wilson]

Interesting note on the etymology.....originally meant "abundant" or "plentiful...".
The honorific/pejorative duality in the meaning goes back centuries, possibly due to an association with "foul" as well as "full"....
"Foulsome" itself is a pretty ancient word too, if used much less now. Mainly Scottish, cognate with "fowsum"....(and there isn't much honour in being called that...)

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fulsome

***
....Intriguing distinction above between "music critics" and "armchair critics".....what do music critics rest upon while they review? It must be something very grand!
As for me, I'm either a Listening Chair Critic or at times, a Listening Room Ambulatory one....

I will get around to hearing the concerto soon, no, really......

[Richard Barrett]

As do many of us armchair critics, possibly with even less reason.

Of course people who've spent their adult lives listening enthusiastically and thoughtfully (which includes some but not all professional critics ) will have fascinating things to say as well, like present company for example!

[Pulcinella]

Interesting note on the etymology.....originally meant "abundant" or "plentiful...".
The honorific/pejorative duality in the meaning goes back centuries, possibly due to an association with "foul" as well as "full"....
"Foulsome" itself is a pretty ancient word too, if used much less now. Mainly Scottish, cognate with "fowsum"....(and there isn't much honour in being called that...)

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fulsome

***
....Intriguing distinction above between "music critics" and "armchair critics".....what do music critics rest upon while they review? It must be something very grand!
As for me, I'm either a Listening Chair Critic or at times, a Listening Room Ambulatory one....

I will get around to hearing the concerto soon, no, really......

Fair point, but I was thinking primarily of those that review concerts/recitals/operas, etc, actually being at the performance, rather than those reviewing recordings, and bringing that experience/expertise with them, whether from their armchair or a chair in the R3 studio!

[BBMmk2]

I wasn’t able to hear who #won the accolade?

[Leinster Lass]

I wasn’t able to hear who #won the accolade?

I'll tell you on the 5th of December!

[BBMmk2]

I'll tell you on the 5th of December!

Ah, yes.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wasn’t able to hear who #won the accolade?

This is becoming something of a habit.

[makropulos]

Please can we have fewer performers reviewing recordings - magazines such as Gramophone do not have reviews from active performers! I assume that this will be a distanced programme as I believe that the reviewer lives in Berlin?

Tell that to Gramophone reviewers like David Fanning and Peter Dickinson (both 'active performers'). All of the current series of BAL have been made remotely so far, so it doesn't really matter where Sarah is, provided she's got a good internet connection.

[makropulos]

She's quite pushy & was v skilled at getting beside Rattle in group photos & part obscuring him with shoulder or horn ...

Pushy? Seriously? She's articulate, assertive and confident –but that does not equate to 'pushy'.

[jayne lee wilson]

She's quite pushy & was v skilled at getting beside Rattle in group photos & part obscuring him with shoulder or horn ...

Never took this comment seriously before, but if it was meant then its a big from me!

I could use far stronger language. Instead, a request for some pictorial examples please?......

[CallMePaul]

Tell that to Gramophone reviewers like David Fanning and Peter Dickinson (both 'active performers'). All of the current series of BAL have been made remotely so far, so it doesn't really matter where Sarah is, provided she's got a good internet connection.

Having seen David Fanning play the piano several times at Manchester University concerts, I am happy to apologise if he feels slighted in any way, however, his "day job" is as Professor of Music at Manchester. He is, of course, the western world's leading authority on Weinberg and has published on many other Soviet era Russian composers as well as Nielsen.