20thC composers in their own words: new series on BBC4 TV

[teamsaint]

Whatever footage they use of Britten, I'll probably have seen it (unless it's the one suggested by ams, that is ) I shouldn't think there'll be very much about him anyway. He's had his turn recently. I just hope the commentary isn't too silly. The Radio Times says something about 'Britten at his most urbane', not a description of him that I'd use.

I enjoyed the clips last night, though the commentary was very predictable. I don't think I'd seen Strauss before, and I'd vaguely expected him to look more interesting, somehow. Copland came across well.

Yes, , he did. Certainly encouraged me to look further into his work.

[Richard Tarleton]

I don't think I'd seen Strauss before, and I'd vaguely expected him to look more interesting, somehow. Copland came across well.

Strauss reminds me of my grandfather (in a good way). Copland was most entertaining. But not a very revealing programme. It was followed by a load of ageing hippies reminiscing about Gene Clark of the Byrds.

[Mary Chambers]

Strauss reminds me of my grandfather (in a good way).

My grandfather looked very like Elgar.

[ardcarp]

Despite all our sniffiness (including mine) about the lowbrow presentation and info, maybe we should bear in mind that BBC4 probably had a general audience in mind. And maybe too we should be grateful for the musical crumbs we get on TV these days.

[Richard Tarleton]

And maybe too we should be grateful for the musical crumbs we get on TV these days.

Not all TV, ardcarp, just BBC - I hesitate to wind up the Sky-phobes but there is substantial classical music fare to be had there.

[ardcarp]

...must buy a dish with one of those houses attached sometime.

[Sir Velo]

Despite all our sniffiness (including mine) about the lowbrow presentation and info, maybe we should bear in mind that BBC4 probably had a general audience in mind.

I'm sure it was aimed at a general audience but why should this be considered acceptable? This approach falls between two stools: it fails to satisfy the committed listener and it almost certainly won't attract a wider public.

[VodkaDilc]

I thought the programme began well, with good footage of Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Strauss, Copland and Walton, but it began to suffer from "we've got some film of x, so let's work it in somehow". I know Lutyens has her fans, but alongside these giants! It looks as if the same might happen next week - Bernstein recording with Carreras again!

And another short clip at the beginning stood out to me for personal reasons. Time and time again over the years we see the clip from the Boulez Roundhouse Prom in about 1971 which included a BBCSO percussionist dropping a tray of crockery in Ligeti's Nouvelles Aventures. I took part in that Prom, so I notice. Here it comes again!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Lutyens TOWERS over Copland and Walton, and stands a good few feet higher than Strauss, for that matter!


(Also sprach fhg!)

[Mary Chambers]

Lutyens TOWERS over Copland and Walton, and stands a good few feet higher than Strauss, for that matter!


(Also sprach fhg!)

Well, if you think so....! I was interested to see her. She's always been just a name to me.

[Bryn]

By far the best think Sir Edwin took part in creating.

[ardcarp]

Well, if you think so....! I was interested to see her. She's always been just a name to me.

I took part in a concert of Elizabeth Maconchy's music in the 1960s. She was present at the rehearsal. Embarrassingly, the conductor, when seeking advice on some point, kept referring to her as 'Miss Lutyens'.

[Mary Chambers]

. Wonder what they'll do with Britten next week? No doubt he'll be strolling along Aldeburgh beach with his walking stick, his cardigan and his dog.

You were right! But I don't think I'd ever seen the interview in the very sunny Red House garden before. I didn't like the way he and Bernstein were bracketed together.

The programme is really too simplified and shallow to be much use to those of us who know a bit already. Some of the footage is worth seeing, though I think it gives a distorted, glib view of the composers. What else can be done in the few minutes they each get?

[rauschwerk]

Lutyens TOWERS over Copland and Walton, and stands a good few feet higher than Strauss, for that matter!

Stravinsky was a great admirer. Once, in London, he visited the studio where some of her music was being recorded for a broadcast. He gave her a big hug and said, "That is the music that I like!", or words to that effect.

[ardcarp]

The programme is really too simplified and shallow to be much use to those of us who know a bit already. Some of the footage is worth seeing, though I think it gives a distorted, glib view of the composers. What else can be done in the few minutes they each get?

I agree. It had to be for the none-specialist, it had to cram in too much, and yes, the bits of footage were the best bits.

I wish they had shown a clip of Walton which I remember seeing once. Lounging on his patio in Ischia, he was asked by a very 1960s Arts interviewer, "Now tell me, Sir William, can you explain the musical rationale behind the more concise nature of your most recent works?"
"Less trouble" growled WW.