The Joy of Mozart BBC4

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Having plucked up the courage to watch the programme, I can only agree with what has been said. Despite a few interesting moments, the overall impression was that tis programme was really The Joy of Tom Service.
Mr Service cannot have done himself any good in this venture, especially the nauseating home movie clips, which would be fine for family viewing, but certainly not for public consumption on a national TV channel.

[Nick Armstrong]

home videos of himself as a child.

nauseating home move clips

What a berk he is.

[gurnemanz]

Dog's breakfast. Snippets of interviews and musical extracts which didn't add up to a coherent project.

[muzzer]

If only it were The Joy of Public Service, eh readers?

[ardcarp]

I may take a look at some point, but what strikes me as one important point is that this was BBC Four's contribution, as if it might be too highbrow and esoteric for BBC Two viewers

I'm not sure that high- or low-brow comes into it. I think the aim (if indeed there was one) of the programme was very muddled, as Mary suggests. A sort of cod-scholarship was mixed up with performers' emotions in a way that appealed neither to the 'average listener' not to the cognoscenti. It was all so bitty, you couldn't really get your teeth into anything.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i must agree, Foyle's War is ace ... the design and realisation aptly captures the post war world of rationing and stiff clothes of childhood memories

[Nick Armstrong]

i must agree, Foyle's War is ace ... the design and realisation aptly captures the post war world of rationing and stiff clothes of childhood memories

Another fan here. Kitchen is the best TV actor around at the moment, imo (along with Anne Reid in the 'Halifax' programme)

[teamsaint]

Another fan here. Kitchen is the best TV actor around at the moment, imo (along with Anne Reid in the 'Halifax' programme)

The first one in the series(?) was good, and plenty of political comment within the narrative, which was good to see.
EG the complex nature of finance and trade during the war.

Personally, Charles Hazelwood doesnt bother me, some , if not all, of his analysis is/ was helpful, and his enthusiasm is a kind that I can live with.

it is a shame about Tom Services TV presentation, because much of his writing I really enjoy.

He needs to change his initials, though......very irritating.......

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Another Foyle fan - 'tho I thought the first story in this series was a bit weak, the last two were very good. Announced here as "the last ever episode"? What, again?!

[gamba]

The Mozart was a mish mash. 15 minutes & then off. Whatever happened to the BBC I once knew. Now only silly people pretending to be experts.

[Pianorak]

I sat right through the Joy of Mozart/TS - but kept wondering why isn't this on BBC1 or BBC2 at best. They appear to have done a lot of restoration work on Mozart's piano as it didn't sound half bad.

[Stanfordian]

The Mozart was a mish mash. 15 minutes & then off. Whatever happened to the BBC I once knew. Now only silly people pretending to be experts.

Hiya Gamba,

It comes as no great surprise about the quality of the Mozart programme as the BBC are obsessed by celebrities. Its presenters seem more important than the subject they are presenting. But it could have been a lot worse. Instead of Tom Service it might have been Stephen Fry.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Another Foyle fan - 'tho I thought the first story in this series was a bit weak, the last two were very good. Announced here as "the last ever episode"? What, again?!

They appear to mean it.

On 12 January 2015, ITV announced that no more episodes will be commissioned due to the high costs of production and its intention to air original drama commissions. The last episode aired on 18 January 2015.

[Stanley Stewart]

Just watched the Mozart documentary - a 'shreds and patches' mishmash!

[french frank]

I'm not sure that high- or low-brow comes into it.

Yes, I said 'as if it might be' - as if the BBC thought the mere mention of Mozart was enough to condemn it to BBC Four regardless of the apparent target audience. Still, I take the point about the home video of self when child: elaborating on the theme of precocious genius.