Dear M'sieu G. Fauré

[DracoM]

Dear M'sieu G. Fauré

Just to let you know that Mlle Mohr-Pietsch, a noted choral scholar, thinks your Cantique de Jean Racine is dull, academic and ‘turgid’.

But luckily – and I’m sure that the choral world is immensely grateful to her for the discovery - she knows how this turgidity can be fully alleviated: she has to hand an arrangement of your quite widely sung original, and what is more it is manufactured by the illustrious British composer, John Rutter.

I think you can therefore take it that your ‘Cantique’ will once more become popular in its new livery, especially with the harp now cosily included in the sound world with which Mr Rutter has sweetly coated and thus disguised your original’s turgidity.

I am sure you will feel relieved.

Yrs truly

An Admirer.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Did she really say that?

Well we all know presenters are more important than music.

[W.Kearns]

Dear M'sieu G. Fauré

Just to let you know that Mlle Mohr-Pietsch, a noted choral scholar, thinks your Cantique de Jean Racine is dull, academic and ‘turgid’.

But luckily – and I’m sure that the choral world is immensely grateful to her for the discovery - she knows how this turgidity can be fully alleviated: she has to hand an arrangement of your quite widely sung original, and what is more it is manufactured by the illustrious British composer, John Rutter.

I think you can therefore take it that your ‘Cantique’ will once more become popular in its new livery, especially with the harp now cosily included in the sound world with which Mr Rutter has sweetly coated and thus disguised your original’s turgidity.

I am sure you will feel relieved.

Yrs truly

An Admirer.

Thanks DracoM. Well expressed. I always enjoy Faure's 'Cantique de Jean Racine' and to hear it described just now as 'turgid' went right against my grain. Cheers for your elegant rejoinder.

[Nick Armstrong]

Did she really say that?

If so, it's pathetic (rather than surprising, which is itself sad). Her programme is one of a lengthening list that never gets listened to here.

[DracoM]

'Turgid' was her very word.

<< Her programme is one of a lengthening list that never gets listened to here >>

Despite my position as Host on The Choir, I have to admit that it is often with gritted teeth that I listen to her choice of 'tracks'.
However, there is no gainsaying that the rack [or do I mean wrack? or wreck?] of bleeding chunks neatly fits in with where R3 has been heading for five or so years.

Anyone remember those past very fine R3 choral programmes that played whole works - as a matter of course?

[cloughie]

I don't know the Cantique well,enough to comment nor the newcRutter version, maybe I should explore it. I will say though and probably have before on these boards that I find the Faure Pavane in its orchestral form a beautiful work but the choral version is too heavy and maybe should be sung by a smaller choir or have more 'p's and 'pp's!

[Nevilevelis]

She is coating her appalling lack of discernment in pseudo-musicological jargon. Ignorant. I very much doubt John Rutter would agree with her, and he is too nice a person to call her out for using his arr. as a stick with which to besmirch the work. I guess this comment was made on The Choir (?), which is now cringe-worthy and irritating in equal measure. That's her legacy. I'll stick with Le Cantique de Jean Racine, thanks.

[gradus]

She is coating her appalling lack of discernment in pseudo-musicological jargon. Ignorant. I very much doubt John Rutter would agree with her, and he is too nice a person to call her out for using his arr. as a stick with which to besmirch the work. I guess this comment was made on The Choir (?), which is now cringe-worthy and irritating in equal measure. That's her legacy. I'll stick with Le Cantique de Jean Racine, thanks.

Couldn't much the same accusation be levelled at those of us who have listed in various threads over the years, pieces that we hate/loathe/never want to hear again. It's only her opinion after all.

[Nevilevelis]

Couldn't much the same accusation be levelled at those of us who have listed in various threads over the years, pieces that we hate/loathe/never want to hear again. It's only her opinion after all.

Yes, certainly! The parade of tastes as musical criticism is rife here!

[french frank]

Couldn't much the same accusation be levelled at those of us who have listed in various threads over the years, pieces that we hate/loathe/never want to hear again. It's only her opinion after all.

You could say that except … how many times have people complained that it isn't the job of Radio 3 presenters to express their personal opinions, especially when delivered as if they were facts? But as for the forum, isn't it a principal function to allow people to express their opinions?

[I did check on the quote, and to be perfectly fair, she did introduce her opinion by saying "Beautiful though it is, it can [sic] sound turgid and like an academic exercise." There again, I suppose most things can [sic] if performed in that way.]

[gradus]

You could say that except … how many times have people complained that it isn't the job of Radio 3 presenters to express their personal opinions, especially when delivered as if they were facts? But as for the forum, isn't it a principal function to allow people to express their opinions?

[I did check on the quote, and to be perfectly fair, she did introduce her opinion by saying "Beautiful though it is, it can [sic] sound turgid and like an academic exercise." There again, I suppose most things can [sic] if performed in that way.]

Entirely agree that expressing opinions is what most of us do, me included.

[Nick Armstrong]

Couldn't much the same accusation be levelled at those of us who have listed in various threads over the years, pieces that we hate/loathe/never want to hear again. It's only her opinion after all.

The difference being of course that private venting here is very different from being paid out of the licence fee to "parade" (I like the word!) such opinions on the air when presenting music. "Nation Shall Spout Tripe Unto Nation"....

[french frank]

"Nations shall spout tripe unto Nation"....

Some more than others

[french frank]

'Anyone remember those past very fine R3 choral programmes that played whole works - as a matter of course?

That was what Choirworks was about - the great choral music. Not Piazzolla's Libertango, An der schonen, blauen Donau (the longest piece on tonight's show?) and Dizzy Gillespie's A Night in Tunisia.

12 pieces in 60 minutes.

[mopsus]

I find Lucie Skeaping annoying on the Early Music Show, partly because of her rather 'archaeological' approach to the performance e.g. of Purcell sacred music at Westminster Abbey, as if it were a dead tradition rather than a living one. Also she makes unwarranted assumptions about how much the audience know, such as assuming in the programme broadcast today that listeners had never come across any of Bach's secular cantatas.