Mozart?

[ardcarp]

Anyone?

[rauschwerk]

The last CoTW I listened to in its entirety was about Lassus. I looked at this week's playlist and quickly concluded that I wasn't going to discover much about Mozart's life and work that I don't already know.

[Dave2002]

The last CoTW I listened to in its entirety was about Lassus. I looked at this week's playlist and quickly concluded that I wasn't going to discover much about Mozart's life and work that I don't already know.

Mastermind?

Are you trying to persuade us not to listen, or to seek out the podcast of the Lassus programme, since that is no longer available on demand?
Indeed, what do others think the purpose of COTW is anyway? I don't listen to it regularly and perhaps not too frequently either, but when I do I usually learn something. Sometimes, even if I know the music, I find that the recording played sheds new light on works.

[french frank]

Mastermind?

Are you trying to persuade us not to listen, or to seek out the podcast of the Lassus programme, since that is no longer available on demand?
Indeed, what do others think the purpose of COTW is anyway? I don't listen to it regularly and perhaps not too frequently either, but when I do I usually learn something. Sometimes, even if I know the music, I find that the recording played sheds new light on works.

One 'purpose' was that this is National Young Persons' Week on Radio 3. True, in the case of prematurely demised composers, there would have been plenty to choose from.

[rauschwerk]

Mastermind?

Are you trying to persuade us not to listen, or to seek out the podcast of the Lassus programme, since that is no longer available on demand?
Indeed, what do others think the purpose of COTW is anyway? I don't listen to it regularly and perhaps not too frequently either, but when I do I usually learn something. Sometimes, even if I know the music, I find that the recording played sheds new light on works.

I'm not trying to persuade anyone to do anything, or to desist from it. I listen to CoTW when it concerns a major composer about whom I know little (Lassus being a case in point), but hardly at all otherwise. This week's focus is on Mozart's piano concertos which, from 50 years of listening, I probably know better than almost all of Mozart's other music.

That's all.

[Dave2002]

I wasn't trying to suggest that you haven't experience of Mozart's music. I also have listened to much of Mozart's output, but I do often still find COTW of interest when I do listen to it. Maybe others do too. I think the offerings this week include Piano Concerto 13 in C, K415, which isn't heard as often as some of the others. Most of us have some basic knowledge of some core composers works and lives, but there are quite frequently some other aspects which COTW brings out which would otherwise pass most of us by. In any case, until something better is offered I'd prefer it if COTW were kept in the schedules, though I did like the previous arrangement where the repeats were slipped by a week. There are programmes with worse formats than COTW as others around here have commented on over the last few years.

I will try to pick up the Lassus podcast now, having been prompted. Thanks.

[rauschwerk]

In any case, until something better is offered I'd prefer it if COTW were kept in the schedules, though I did like the previous arrangement where the repeats were slipped by a week.

Agreed!

[french frank]

And in any case CotW isn't about playing the music (again): it's about the context surrounding it, the events in the composer's life at the time - which one may not know, even if one knows the music.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think I've missed a point - is there a suggestion that CotW might be removed from the schedules? It's one of the most consistently reliable programmes that the BBC broadcasts in any medium, so I fervently hope not. However, with the i-Player/Listen Again facility, the evening repeat is redundant. I'd prefer if that hour were devoted to Jazz, World and New Musics.

Other than that, my position concerning this week's set of Mozartiana is practically the same as rauschy's; undeniably marvellous Music, but repertoire I know very well - if a free hour during the broadcast had come up, I'd've listened with great enjoyment. As it is, too many other things requiring imminent attention.

[aeolium]

In any case, until something better is offered I'd prefer it if COTW were kept in the schedules, though I did like the previous arrangement where the repeats were slipped by a week. There are programmes with worse formats than COTW as others around here have commented on over the last few years.

I agree with that, but I really cannot see the point in repeatedly featuring very well-known composers whose works are broadcast on R3 on a daily basis and the general outline of whose lives is probably known by much of the R3 audience - unless it is possibly to explore works of those composers that are off the beaten track. The real value of CotW for me is when it features composers of whose life and work I know relatively little.

[rauschwerk]

And in any case CotW isn't about playing the music (again): it's about the context surrounding it, the events in the composer's life at the time - which one may not know, even if one knows the music.

Just so: which is why, having sung a handful of wonderful Lassus pieces, I relished finding out lots more about his life.

[Serial_Apologist]

I agree with that, but I really cannot see the point in repeatedly featuring very well-known composers whose works are broadcast on R3 on a daily basis and the general outline of whose lives is probably known by much of the R3 audience - unless it is possibly to explore works of those composers that are off the beaten track. The real value of CotW for me is when it features composers of whose life and work I know relatively little.

Exactly my thoughts too.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Exactly my thoughts too.

I'd prefer this, too - but there is an important role for the "discovering Mozart through his Piano Concertos" type of CotW: whilst "much of the R3 audience" is very familiar with this repertoire, there are listeners who are new to it and who (as I did as a teenager) use such programmes to build up their knowledge. Their needs shouldn't be entirely discarded - they aren't catered for in the same depth and reliability by ClassicFM or any other broadcaster.

[vinteuil]

... well, this COTW did nudge me into getting a HIPP rendition of the quintets - not the Chiara Banchini wh they played on Thursday [K515] -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000007IU

I thought that a bit rough, - but instead the Salomon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000002ZEB

So not, I think, a totally wasted week for me - even tho' I may have been listening to Mozart piano concertos for over fifty years...

[pastoralguy]

I'd prefer this, too - but there is an important role for the "discovering Mozart through his Piano Concertos" type of CotW: whilst "much of the R3 audience" is very familiar with this repertoire, there are listeners who are new to it and who (as I did as a teenager) use such programmes to build up their knowledge. Their needs shouldn't be entirely discarded - they aren't catered for in the same depth and reliability by ClassicFM or any other broadcaster.