BBC Young Musician 2016

[DublinJimbo]

In the BBC's case it's partly entertainment, as evidenced by the duo of glam presenters who (nothing personal) really get on my wick.

Absolutely. If they're going to address each other in such chummy manner ('What do you think, Ali?' 'That was just aMAZEing, Clemmy.'), then why do they keep on turning to the camera? And is it really necessary to be so gushing all the time, or to ask all the competitors the same inane questions?

Rant aside, I was disappointed that the pianist didn't get through to the final, and I would have favoured the second violinist over the cellist to win the string section.

[oddoneout]

One of the judges evidently didn't think much of the pianist, being critical of his choice of repertoire, but taking the longer view the lad in question is very young yet and I'm rather inclined to think that it maybe isn't a bad thing that he isn't going through to the final this year. He can try again, but in the meantime I reckon that he won't be forgotten and there will be opportunities for him regardless of this outcome.

[Barbirollians]

One of the judges evidently didn't think much of the pianist, being critical of his choice of repertoire, but taking the longer view the lad in question is very young yet and I'm rather inclined to think that it maybe isn't a bad thing that he isn't going through to the final this year. He can try again, but in the meantime I reckon that he won't be forgotten and there will be opportunities for him regardless of this outcome.

There have been younger winners of the competition . It may be very unfair but I have found the presentation suggesting that the emoting of the cellist and the " coolness" of the saxophonist have appealed to the producers and presenters .

[Richard Tarleton]

One of the judges [was it JLW during the string section the other day?] said you had to go with the best performance on the day, rather than potential - which makes me wonder about Stephanie Childress who seemed to be in a different league to the others, but then what do I know. How does repertoire choice fit in to this? A bold (bizarre?) choice by the singing cellist - I seem to remember Paul Tortelier used to do a spot of singing in his recitals occasionally.

[ardcarp]

It may be very unfair but I have found the presentation suggesting that the emoting of the cellist and the " coolness" of the saxophonist have appealed to the producers and presenters

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The young pianist played the Ligeti absolutely BRILLIANTLY in my opinion...and knowing something of Ligeti's musical ethos (he loved 'mechanical' music for one thing) I am sure he would have abhorred a pianist who leered at the audience like Winifred Attwell. Jackie was a most thoughtful and deeply sensitive musician, and surely it is possible to communicate music to an audience without physicality.

Leaving aside the Blasted Pair of Sirens, I found the semis a bit unsatisfactory. For a start, a lot of the interview material was recycled (boring), but despite the superb playing from the uber-talented youngsters, I felt it was all a bit unnecessary and a bit of an anti-climax. Does anyone know what the requirements of the semi-final were in respect of repeating the same repertoire as played in the category finals?

Competitions have their downside, and somehow choosing three out of five seems very harsh on the two left out.

which makes me wonder about Stephanie Childress who seemed to be in a different league to the others,

Was she the one who leads the NYO? If so she was outstanding, IMO, and I am sorry she will not be in the final.

[Barbirollians]

In the old days I am sure all category winners made the final evidently someone has decided that would be too much for modern attention spans .

[Richard Tarleton]

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Was she the one who leads the NYO? If so she was outstanding, IMO, and I am sorry she will not be in the final.

I didn't know that beforehand, but yes.

[ardcarp]

In the old days I am sure all category winners made the final.....

That is the only fair thing to do. And why not 5 concertos in the final?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

In the old days I am sure all category winners made the final evidently someone has decided that would be too much for modern attention spans .

That's how I remember it, too. A full (and long) evening of Concertos on BBC2.

[Barbirollians]

That's how I remember it, too. A full (and long) evening of Concertos on BBC2.

As long as they choose a concerto that lasts no longer than 30 minutes I cannot see how that would be the end of the world .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As long as they choose a concerto that lasts no longer than 30 minutes I cannot see how that would be the end of the world .

No - I'm going to see that a week on Saturday! ("Long" wasn't meant as a criticism, by the way - although it looks tautologous now I read it.) Most of the Concertos were under the half-hour mark and the programme still attracted large audiences.

[Barbirollians]

Sheku Kannah Mason I see appeared last year with five of his siblings playing on Britain's Got Talent .

[oddoneout]

That's how I remember it, too. A full (and long) evening of Concertos on BBC2.

A big ask of the orchestra, and I wonder if, now that more 'modern' and/or unfamiliar repertoire appears it is too expensive in terms of rehearsal time and money to do 5 these days?
I seem to remember that the/a( was there more than one?) European YM competition had an orchestra(Vienna Phil?) which seemed less than enthusiastic about what was required of it, in marked contrast to their British equivalents.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A big ask of the orchestra, and I wonder if, now that more 'modern' and/or unfamiliar repertoire appears it is too expensive in terms of rehearsal time and money to do 5 these days?

That seems an odd () reason to penalise two of the contestants; "Sorry, two of you'll have to go - the orchestra's a bit tired. After all, they have done nothing else during the Competition, so you can't expect them to be as fresh as you lot all are - having been performing your socks off for the past month."

[oddoneout]

That seems an odd () reason to penalise two of the contestants; "Sorry, two of you'll have to go - the orchestra's a bit tired. After all, they have done nothing else during the Competition, so you can't expect them to be as fresh as you lot all are - having been performing your socks off for the past month."

I didn't mean that the orchestras aren't up for it, but given that lack of rehearsal time is a long running issue in this country does that not have an effect on decision making? Perhaps this is the price to be paid for continuing to have the competition at all?