Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[Nick Armstrong]

Tom goes rather over the top in his assessment of SirSimon's powers. I think the comments are more interesting.

No change there then... The sycophantic gushing in the article seems par for the R3 course among presenters who want a particular musician on their 'show' or in 'their studio' (c.f. Sean 'A million thanks for your absolutely stunningly wonderful playing' Rafferty) - Service presumably angling with Simon Denis's agent for 'special access'.

The comments are indeed a much more interesting read.

Sorry, something's happening in London? Can't hear you over the awesomeness that is Vasily Petrenko, the Liverpool Phil and all the programmes they run. You're years behind.

...

Yes. Doesn't say much for the CBSO, Halle, or Liverpool Phil. But they're so provincial and this is London so it's seismic.

[MrGongGong]

To see Rattle as the single-handed saviour of classical music & music education in the UK (or even just England) is ridiculous and dangerous - .

Spot on IMV

And his priorities will be the same as they always have throughout his career: to democratise the art form, to shatter the dangerous illusion that the primary function of orchestras is to play concerts in gilt-edged cages around the world

So lets build a big fancy hall then ?

I wish there was less guff around this
Simon Rattle is a great musician BUT he wont do anything about the mess that the government has made of music hubs etc

[MrGongGong]

Good news. Rattle is not just a great musician, more importantly, he's a leader. This is very positive.

When he turns up at Number 10 with a baseball bat to sort out the mess that is being made of music education then I might feel a bit more positive ....

[Beef Oven!]

When he turns up at Number 10 with a baseball bat to sort out the mess that is being made of music education then I might feel a bit more positive ....

You're an anarchist, you don't understand leadership.

[jean]

I don't think that's entirely true: the new hall is mentioned in the last paragraph, 'And then there's the new hall...' before that he talked 'the music' and about the way he thought Rattle could transform the LSO...

It was there in the subtitle, though:

Conductor’s appointment as LSO music director could be catalyst for genre’s revitalisation, from schools to (new) concert halls

I think what really irritates me is that a conductor's ability to generate new concert halls is dependent more on reputation than musicianship, and the one may not be a perfect reflection of the other.

[jean]

The comments are indeed a much more interesting read.

Sorry, something's happening in London? Can't hear you over the awesomeness that is Vasily Petrenko, the Liverpool Phil and all the programmes they run. You're years behind.

...

Yes. Doesn't say much for the CBSO, Halle, or Liverpool Phil. But they're so provincial and this is London so it's seismic.

Indeed!

[Flosshilde]

Perhaps this thread should become "Where next for the LSO"?

[gurnemanz]

When he turns up at Number 10 with a baseball bat to sort out the mess that is being made of music education then I might feel a bit more positive ....

Apropos .... Wiltshire.

[Stunsworth]

Tom goes rather over the top in his assessment of SirSimon's powers. I think the comments are more interesting.

He may be over the top, but a lot of the comments are very, very, sour.

[teamsaint]

Apropos .... Wiltshire.

THanks Gurney.

Heard about this issue today. I have to say that my kids experience of the WMS was always excellent, some terrific and committed musicians and teachers there, bringing music to a wide variety of young people, in a wide range of genres,so please look at the petition folks, and sign if you feel supportive.

[french frank]

I think what really irritates me is that a conductor's ability to generate new concert halls is dependent more on reputation than musicianship, and the one may not be a perfect reflection of the other.

It may be [very, very] irritating, but celebrity trumps most things these days, unfortunately.

[Flosshilde]

He may be over the top, but a lot of the comments are very, very, sour.

I don't think they're very much different to comments on this thread - some not liking Rattle as a conductor, some with great admiration for him, some sying that there is more to outreach & education than Rattle (or perhaps Service) think, and a few suggesting that focussing on a new hall in London is rather short sighted.

[Beef Oven!]

"Whole Lotta Tall Poppies", goin' on

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Looked; felt supportive; signed.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

He writes as though the most important part of his 'revitalising' effect will be to persuade someone to cough up for a new Hall.

It's symptomatic of the Londoncentric nature of classical music criticism that the 'revitalising' effect of other fine conductors in other cities goes largely unrecognised.