Originally posted by teamsaint
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Reviewers in the press grrrrrrrr
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Originally posted by Pabmusic View PostSibelius is supposed to have said (presumably in Finnish or Swedish - the latter of which was his first language) "Pay no attention to what the critics say. No statue was ever put up to a critic".
It's a lovely quote, but does anyone know if it's true?
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Barbirolli's Manchester concerts were all reviewed in The Guardian, usually by Gerald Larner and mostly scathing sort of way. Later on the same day, the same concert would be reviewed in the Manchester Evening News by. John Robert Blunn, in the most glowing language.
In the end it's just one individual's opinion, but I do think it has value in making readers aware that these concerts are actually happening and that Music doesn't just mean The Voice, etc.
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Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View PostI do sometimes wonder what planet these reviewers are on! I don't take nowt from these guys at all!!
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Originally posted by Mattbod View PostJust been reading the press reviews for the gala recital of the rebuilt Festival Hall organ last Tuesday. Was infuriated to read both John Allison of the Torygraph and Barry Millington of the Standard lambast John Scott's performance of the Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor. As an organist I admired his beautiful articulation and phrasing (something Millington tears into). I know that organ is very unforgiving to play as the dry acoustic shows up the slightest error.
Allison says the majority of the programme was indifferently played: did he really listen to Isabelle Demers' performance of the Prelude and Fugue in B major: one of the most difficult pieces in the repertoire (played from memory according to the presenter).
Quite frankly I don't know what authority guys like this have to make comments like this. Are they organists? As an amateur player i look up to players like this and get wound up when these people casually pan their efforts. As I have always maintained: those who can do; those who can't review.
You don't have to be a Cabinet Maker to recognise a shoddy bit of carpentry, but knowing the difference between a tenon saw and a hacksaw certainly helps.
Hs
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Originally posted by Hornspieler View PostI did not listen to this performance and so I have nothing to say about whether the reviewer was correct in his coments, but I take issue with you, Matt, on your final paragraph.
You don't have to be a Cabinet Maker to recognise a shoddy bit of carpentry, but knowing the difference between a tenon saw and a hacksaw certainly helps.
Hs
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Mattbod
Alison John Scott's friday recital was brilliant. How anyone can label his playing stiff and his articulation strange , I cannot imagine.
Sir Velo: the placing of the console nearer the organ was a silly mistake and will affect balance but that would more likely have an effect on registration than playing PLUS Scott was organist at St Paul's before the mobile console where it was nigh on impossible for the organist to balance the instrument from the old console behind the choir stalls. He is therefore well used to this.
As to Richard Morrison I would read his review but it is behind Murdoch's paywall so I can't and I will not shell out to read a net article.
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Originally posted by teamsaint View PostShaw do. well, sort of.I think his plays may have more to do with it, though !
Alex Ross thinks there are one or two>
http://www.therestisnoise.com/2006/0...s_of_crit.html
Shaw was a playwright who was also a Music Critic, but many famous Composers have been Critics as well. Berlioz, Schumann, Havergal Brian, Virgil Thompson, Aaron Copland come to mind, and no doubt there are many more. Many of them have their own statues, but as per the Shaw example, we suspect they are to paens to their own creations, and not their opinions of the creations of others.
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For me, the exception is cd criticism. At least one can hear exactly the same performance under home conditions and decide if the the critic is being fair or not. Having said that, I remember that, for a while, Gramophone had a 'Hi-Fi doctor' feature where one of the 'patients' was a Gramophone critic. His system was vastly inferior to mine and yet he would pontificate on the sound quality of new recordings. Most odd.
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Originally posted by pastoralguy View PostFor me, the exception is cd criticism. At least one can hear exactly the same performance under home conditions and decide if the the critic is being fair or not. Having said that, I remember that, for a while, Gramophone had a 'Hi-Fi doctor' feature where one of the 'patients' was a Gramophone critic. His system was vastly inferior to mine and yet he would pontificate on the sound quality of new recordings. Most odd.
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Richard Barrett
Originally posted by Ferretfancy View PostBeing Andrew Clements, he is always keen on avant garde offerings
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