Norman Lebrecht on Trinity College, Cambridge

[french frank]

Edit: to be clear I'm talking about NL's comments on the appointment of Paul Nicholson, Polyphony's agent, to the College's staff, not Esenvalds.

In that case I have been labouring under a misapprehension . I was thinking of his reference to the appointment of EE, 'a Latvian composer of considerable obscurity', and his question, 'Why Eriks?'

Of Nicholson's appointment, I know nothing, but I think this might be the question that was aired some while ago.

[DracoM]

Yes, a VERY long time ago. Wrangling thread back on R3 mbs.

[NotNormanLebrecht]

Yes, a VERY long time ago. Wrangling thread back on R3 mbs.

Wasn't there some palaver over the way Layton was appointed in the first place (in Private Eye, or am I mis-remembering?) a few years ago; I (very vaguely) remember it was something similar - i.e. lack of transparency in the appointments process or something.

[Eudaimonia]

"Personally, I think complaining about dodgy appointments in the music industry is about as stupid as whingeing about the tides coming in and going out." "In any case, let's repeat, it's an academic/college appointment, not a music appointment"

Whoops, Freudian slip! Chalk it up to my quietly fuming about all the truly questionable appointments, commissions, and promotions Lebrecht could have been exposing but wouldn't dare. Nobody would because that's just how the game works, isn't it.

Ugh. Time to put a sock in it and retire gracefully before I say something actionable.

[NotNormanLebrecht]

Some more on the composer, at least, if not the internal appointment/Hyperion stuff: http://www.overgrownpath.com/2011/04...-you-know.html

[french frank]

[Ariosto]

Lebrecht - total BS

Norman Lebrecht is I'm afraid is a totally ignorant, badly informed, stupid man.

I Quote:
(Strad Magazine October 2011)

"Note for note, Alina Ibragimova !!!!! (my exclamation marks) and Gil Shaham can hold their own with any legend in the archive."

"Milstein when he was in his eighties, told me that me that he could never play as fast as the current crop ..." (my emphasis)

What total bull****!! Of course Milstein said that, because he saw what a total idiot NL was. Milstein always gave out these dubious messages (often against himself), even when interviewed by fellow fiddlers like Zukerman. Only fools like Lebrecht fell for it, due to their total ignorance and arrogance.

How this ******** can survive is a mystery to me.

EDIT: I did not want to offend Waldhorn's sensibilities as I had not realised how sensitive he might be. I had also not noticed that this thread was on the Choir platform. I suppose that it should really have all been on Platform 3.

I see that NL will not be "contributing" to the Strad Magazine after October so maybe I will reconsider my cancellation of my subscription next year, as the magazine will certainly have improved considerably with his absence.

[Tony Halstead]

let me be clear: I hold no brief for Norman Lebrecht, BUT

to quote FF
"Can we be circumspect about how we phrase our comments, please?"

Frankly, I'm rather surprised that the above bile from Ariosto hasn't been modded by now.

[Bryn]

One can't go moderating Ariosto for understating the case against Lebrecht, surely?

See, in particular, http://www.r3ok.com/index.php/topic,3411.200.html , from relply 223 onwards.

[Tony Halstead]

Maybe I am simply an ignoramus or perhaps a gulliblamus, but, what exactly is the 'case against' Norman Lebrecht?

[Bryn]

Maybe I am simply an ignoramus or perhaps a gulliblamus, but, what exactly is the 'case against' Norman Lebrecht?

I refer you to the link already offered.

[Ariosto]

LPO/IPO protests

I would only add that like many others I find the actions of the LPO abbhorrent and I certainly would have walked out of that orchestra in the circumstances at least until they reinstated and apologised to the players suspended.

It just shows what the Israelis are able to accomplish even here in Britain.

And of course my opinion as stated re Lebrecht is unaltered and I stand by my extremely low opinion of this parasite.

[Ariosto]

Maybe I am simply an ignoramus or perhaps a gulliblamus, but, what exactly is the 'case against' Norman Lebrecht?

Yes, I agree with you. You really need to be better informed.

[DracoM]

PLEASE, this thread cannot go on like this. It is degrading to the Forum and doing no good, and degenderating into mere playground name calling.
I shall take steps to close it if some civility does not return.

[Tony Halstead]

"I shall take steps to close it if some civility does not return"
How can anybody other than the HOSTS 'close' a thread?