CotW wins award

[Sir Velo]

But it doesn't have the same purpose as their programmes. We don't have programmes like that because their programmes ceased and weren't replaced, the nearest being Discovering Music - particularly when it first started.

Composer of the Week is, or so I thought, principally biographical, setting the music against the composer's life. Was it ever a musicological programme?

Maybe not, but Breakfast isn't the same programme as Morning on 3!

However, people can get a potted bio of any composer from Wiki at the click of a mouse, so why not make the programme probe a little deeper?

[french frank]

Individuals may have their own, individual, opinions. But the award was that of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer and was voted for by listeners. Like all awards, others may dissent, have alternative 'bests', think it was the best though could be better. But this is just different people having different tastes, opinions and priorities. None of which affects the result of the vox populi (which is also, as we know, Dei). We can, if we wish, interpret it as meaning that CotW is among the best arts and music programmes on radio, and on the day it came top.

It isn't out of step with what FoR3 listeners have said: in the last survey CD Review and CotW were consistently praised, with Andrew M and Donald M being considered the 'best' presenters.

[Gordon]

.... the award was that of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer and was voted for by listeners. Like all awards, others may dissent....

Quite so. Just out of curiosity, how many posters here are members of VLV, or at least supporters of its aims? It is an organisation that by its past actions has been a staunch defender of public service and is listened to by government and major players in broadcasting and the media. It survives - just - on its members' subscriptions and has no other support other than the voluntary efforts of its members and officers. It deserves more support from both viewers and listeners. You can join here:

http://www.vlv.org.uk/

[doversoul1]

Maybe not, but Breakfast isn't the same programme as Morning on 3!

However, people can get a potted bio of any composer from Wiki at the click of a mouse, so why not make the programme probe a little deeper?

Breakfast is primarily the same programme as Morning on 3, only Breakfast has been yoked with an extra task of attracting new audience, which seems to conflict with the original purpose of the programme.

Composer of the Week is a narrative, not an analysis which Discovering Music is or information resource which wiki is. If you don’t like the way in which the composer’s life story is told on the programme, that’s fair enough but you can’t criticise a programme for not being what it is not meant to be.

[BBMmk2]

Well done CoTW!¬ Yes!

[StephenO]

Congratulations - CotW richly deserves its award. It's one of the few programmes on Radio 3 which I try never to miss. It manages to be informative, intelligent and above all about music. Donald Macleoad's presentational style is both authoritative and entertaining and suits the programme perfectly.

CotW certainly hasn't plumbed the depths of R3's morning output, although were Petroc, Clemmy and Rob to be unleashed on it we'd no doubt have to endure pieces played backwards and listeners being invited to send in texts nominating their favourite piece by that week's composer.

[Beresford]

I would be pleased if Donald Macleod was offered an MBE or something similar, as IMHO he has done such a lot for classical music.
(But I still don't understand the absence of Sofia Gubaidulina - or have I missed it?)

[underthecountertenor]

(But I still don't understand the absence of Sofia Gubaidulina - or have I missed it?)

I don't think you have. She's had a BBC Composer Weekend (in January 2007), but no CotW.

[oddoneout]

There's a nice letter in next week's RT about CotW. I'm still undecided about the title it appears under - "Nuggets on Radio 3". Is that a subversive suggestion that not all the R3 output is of an equally satisfactory standard?

[Nick Armstrong]

I would be pleased if Donald Macleod was offered an MBE or something similar, as IMHO he has done such a lot for classical music.

Lovely generous message today from Donald Macleod



His twitter account is regularly heartwarming.

However, also today, was this telling exchange:







.

[antongould]

Very, very worrying .......

[Cockney Sparrow]

I seem to remember, a few years ago a tribunal case against the BBC about the Countryfile programme - dropping a presenter, of maturer years than the presenter(s) who then came onto the show. Not sure the tribunal case went to judgement, or whether it was settled (with a non-disclosure agreement? ***) - a quick Google doesn't turn up reference to it. But I think the broadcaster concerned still can be heard on the BBC, but not on Countryfile. In that case IIRC it was about gender discrimination. In DM's it could be in relation to age.

I wonder why DM is making such frank tweets - does it mean he is anticipating retirement, in any case? It will be sad to lose him - careful researcher, authoritative, good radio voice. We'll probably get some Radio 6 personnage "with a proven interest"(but hardly yet evident) - interest "in Classical Music" who can be found in the corridors of Salford and will come in cheaper and more "audience friendly".

(*** interesting discussion on Newsnight BBC2 last night over 20 minutes or so involving Non Disclosure agreements as to Weinstien, and then Geoffrey Robinson QC as to whether they are enforceable, and moves to legislate about them...)

[subcontrabass]

I seem to remember, a few years ago a tribunal case against the BBC about the Countryfile programme - dropping a presenter, of maturer years than the presenter(s) who then came onto the show. Not sure the tribunal case went to judgement, or whether it was settled (with a non-disclosure agreement? ***) - a quick Google doesn't turn up reference to it. But I think the broadcaster concerned still can be heard on the BBC, but not on Countryfile. In that case IIRC it was about gender discrimination. In DM's it could be in relation to age.

See https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...eilly-tribunal

[french frank]

In that case IIRC it was about gender discrimination. In DM's it could be in relation to age.

Both, according to the the Guardian account. And O'Reilly was in her early 50s, not 70. 'In the course of her evidence to the central London tribunal O'Reilly claimed a Countryfile director had warned her "to be careful with those wrinkles when high definition comes in" nine months before she was axed.'

[Stunsworth]

I read the tweets earlier today. He’s posted other tweets in the last couple of months hinting that he wasn’t happy, but nothing as explicit as the ones above. He sounds like someone who has already written their letter of resignation - in his head at least. It would be a great pity to lose him, I’ve learned a lot from listening to his programmes.