BBC Four Leonard Bernstein programme - on now

[Dave2002]

Just noticed this. Seems worth watching!

[pastoralguy]

Many thanks.

[EdgeleyRob]

Just noticed this. Seems worth watching!

It was

[ardcarp]

Y-e-e-e-s.....

I just knew we were going to get a good dose of Jose Carreras being humiliated. That aside, I felt some of the musical chunks were much too short (except, ironically, Nimrod in the guise of a slow bicycle race) and I thought the format of 'information labels' being superimposed on random excerpts was at times tasteless. I refer mainly to being informed about Lenny's sexuality during Bach's Magnificat.

There was some interesting footage...especially of Huw Weldon being put down with casual ease by LB.

Bernstein was one of the greats IMO, a fantastically creative and talented musician. I suppose this programme was about his contact with the BBC, perhaps rather a limiting factor.

[Richard Tarleton]

That scene really is excruciating. Who was responsible for that cruel bit of miscasting anyway - the Hispanic Carreras for the anglophone Tony? We also saw the producer getting a flea in his ear for giving Carreras "elocution lessons" during the session. And I liked Rodney Friend's "Really?!" during the Enigma rehearsal.

But those interviews, with Weldon and H Burton - both seemed completely out of their depth interviewing Bernstein, and (Weldon certainly) seemed to make up for it by being patronising. I fell to wondering who in our arts establishment at the time could have made a better fist of it.

Yes, unlike the Previn programme, not a comfortable watch. And as for the smoking, I was practically coughing myself.

[Dave2002]

Yes, unlike the Previn programme, not a comfortable watch. And as for the smoking, I was practically coughing myself.

Different times!

The interviews certainly did make one wonder whether the BBC really did things better years ago. On this evidence, perhaps not.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Different times!

The interviews certainly did make one wonder whether the BBC really did things better years ago. On this evidence, perhaps not.

It was far from perfect, but imagine what it might have been like with one of today's R3 presenters. . .

[Dave2002]

It was far from perfect, but imagine what it might have been like with one of today's R3 presenters. . .

I think my point was that actually Huw Weldon was in fact pretty excruciating. Are today's presenters really that bad? Perhaps poor in different ways.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I thought the format of 'information labels' being superimposed on random excerpts was at times tasteless. I refer mainly to being informed about Lenny's sexuality during Bach's Magnificat.

Not entirely random, in this case, as the caption noted that Bernstein had returned to his wife and family only a few days before that particular televised concert - and the reason why he had needed to return - and his previous announcement that he intended to live the rest of his life the way he wanted it to be.

Bernstein was one of the greats IMO, a fantastically creative and talented musician. I suppose this programme was about his contact with the BBC, perhaps rather a limiting factor.

Precisely so in all particulars - and with someone of Bernstein's prodigious talents, there needs either to be "a limiting factor" or (and I wouldn't have minded this) a month-long series of programmes covering his work.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

That scene really is excruciating. Who was responsible for that cruel bit of miscasting anyway - the Hispanic Carreras for the anglophone Tony?

Bernstein himself - he wanted to demonstrate the work's associations with "proper" Opera by using singers from that "world". A dreadful, dreadful mistake as far as Carreras was concerned - and I often see LB's slumping over the conductor's desk at the end of the recording session as the realization that his grand vision was going to ruin what could have been one of the greatest recordings. The orchestra and conducting is superb throughout - the chorus is fantastic (any one of those Tenors could have done a much better job than the out-of-his-depth Carreras) - but the soloists vary considerably in quality.

Good to see some of the BBC rehearsals again, too. Always reminds me of what Tom Baker says when a director tells him how he wants a part to be played differently; "Then why did you ask for me?" The BBCSO seemed to want the name of Bernstein for the concert, but seemed to think he'd give them a non-Bernstein performance!

[Nick Armstrong]

The interviews certainly did make one wonder whether the BBC really did things better years ago. On this evidence, perhaps not.

Yes - exactly (likewise poor old Antony Hopkins's stilted intro to the Dodgson guitar concerto in the Previn programme). It was all quite as toe-curling as current presentational ghastliness (perhaps more so in a way, though different).

Good to see some of the BBC rehearsals again, too. Always reminds me of what Tom Baker says when a director tells him how he wants a part to be played differently; "Then why did you ask for me?" The BBCSO seemed to want the name of Bernstein for the concert, but seemed to think he'd give them a non-Bernstein performance!

Quite - they asked for it, they got it! (as he said: "ugghhh! a Jew! from America!! " ) - I have no problem with the Bernstein approach to the Enigma Variations, especially when you get the visuals as well. 'Nimrod' is good enough to take it.

At the same time, the Lenny of that period seemed to be in particularly 'obnoxious poseur' mode (or perhaps it was just his ludicrous wardrobe - the electric green roll-neck, the effete scarf tossed away during the rehearsal of the Enigma 'theme' - plus the Lady Penelope cigarette-holder... )

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

At the same time, the Lenny of that period seemed to be in particularly 'obnoxious poseur' mode (or perhaps it was just his ludicrous wardrobe - the electric green roll-neck, the effete scarf tossed away during the rehearsal of the Enigma 'theme' - plus the Lady Penelope cigarette-holder... )

[Richard Tarleton]

Yes - exactly (likewise poor old Antony Hopkins's stilted intro to the Dodgson guitar concerto in the Previn programme). It was all quite as toe-curling as current presentational ghastliness (perhaps more so in a way, though different).

Erm, m'lud, it was the Previn guitar concerto - written specially for John Williams, and played as per my post above at the gala at which Edward Heath famously conducted Cockaigne.

Williams was playing a guitar by Ignacio Fleta in those days, may well have been this one - see here, at 11.38.

[Nick Armstrong]

Erm, m'lud, it was the Previn guitar concerto

Ahem, quite correct, I'm obliged to learned Counsel.

[Richard Tarleton]

Yes - exactly (likewise poor old Antony Hopkins's stilted intro

He and Previn had form, I now remember - around this time they produced a book called "Music Face to Face", which must have taken them a whole morning to write, and which is currently going on Amazon for 1p, which is rather expensive by the time you've paid postage and packing.

But Previn did memorably describe Hopkins as dressing in "Mick Jagger's cast-offs", which accuonts for his get-up that night.