The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[french frank]

Do you think the presenter has the choice of rep?

I don't think "the choice", though possibly "a choice". A presenter like RC who has a profound knowledge of the repertoire and interpretations on disc would certainly have a lot of say (within the agreed programme brief, of course). I don't think any of the other Breakfast presenters (MH a possible exception) would have a wide enough knowledge to do more than suggest the things they happen to know. But, if it's not an implied insult to any of them, it's not really their job on a programme like Breakfast to be particularly knowledgeable. They are professional broadcasters, not professional musicians/musicologists - notwithstanding the fact that they may have a music qualification and play an instrument.

I would have taken IS's comment simply as a way of plugging Essential Classics ... I would say he would certainly have heard Beni Mora before but perhaps it didn't make a lot of impression (it hasn't on me either ).

[cloughie]

I don't think "the choice", though possibly "a choice". A presenter like RC who has a profound knowledge of the repertoire and interpretations on disc would certainly have a lot of say (within the agreed programme brief, of course). I don't think any of the other Breakfast presenters (MH a possible exception) would have a wide enough knowledge to do more than suggest the things they happen to know. But, if it's not an implied insult to any of them, it's not really their job on a programme like Breakfast to be particularly knowledgeable. They are professional broadcasters, not professional musicians/musicologists - notwithstanding the fact that they may have a music qualification and play an instrument.
I would have taken IS's comment simply as a way of plugging Essential Classics ... I would say he would certainly have heard Beni Mora before but perhaps it didn't make a lot of impression (it hasn't on me either ).

Does that not speak reams for the state of R3 as it is now. I think these days that on Breakfast we have an unacceptable lazily assembled CFM copy. EC is slightly better in that we get some FWs, and sometimes in interestingly different versions.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Uranus was played only a few days ago, the movements they tend to shun on Breakfast are Venus, Saturn & Neptune. I wouldn't be surprised if IS hadn't heard Beni Mora until recently, over the years I have been surprised at how limited a musical knowledge many of our musicians and presenters have. Occasionally too though, there is just a work or two, sometimes a very well-known one, you just don't get round to hearing. It's even happened to me, I'd never heard the Bach St Matthew Passion complete until I purchased a recording last year!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This is so embarrassing!

I've just given a piano lesson to a primary school girl, and Frau Alpensinfonie has suggested to her that she phones into Radio 3 Breakfast during half-term week, to talk about her musical experiences. Apparently that's what the presenters have requested, though I never listen to this travesty of classical music programming any more.

[cloughie]

This is so embarrassing!

I've just given a piano lesson to a primary school girl, and Frau Alpensinfonie has suggested to her that she phones into Radio 3 Breakfast during half-term week, to talk about her musical experiences. Apparently that's what the presenters have requested, though I never listen to this travesty of classical music programming any more.

I hope you briefed her to ask why they play so many odd movements from works instead of the full thing and how she really hates hearing Bolero so often!

[salymap]

Worrying isn't it?

Whereas some members can't stand Beni Mora, sorry Chris Me, I rather like it.[Message 1303 etc].

[french frank]

Does that not speak reams for the state of R3 as it is now. I think these days that on Breakfast we have an unacceptable lazily assembled CFM copy. EC is slightly better in that we get some FWs, and sometimes in interestingly different versions.

If they were only playing ten pieces instead of 20 odd, they'd have a bit better chance of preparing the links.

[kernelbogey]

If they were only playing ten pieces instead of 20 odd, they'd have a bit better chance of preparing the links.

I was struck the other day by Sara M-P gabbling in her effort to cram in all the links, requests for tweets etc as well as information about the music.

[Panjandrum]

over the years I have been surprised at how limited a musical knowledge many of our musicians and presenters have.

I must confess it doesn't surprise me that musicians would have a fairly limited knowledge; after all, they have to focus on a relatively small repertoire as part of their careers.

[Ferretfancy]

Doversoul (n1293) apparently thinks so. Rob Cowan, on the old boards, answered a question about this, saying it was a joint effort of producers and presenter. My post hazarded the guess that it was CBH rather than IS who' had a hand in today's selection.

I had a couple of requests played on CD Masters some years ago, one was Dino Ciani's Debussy, the other a superb Cluytens LP of extracts from The Damnation of Faust, they were both allotted plenty of programme time.
I was kept very well informed about my request by email, from both Rob Cowan and the production team, it was a model of courtesy. I got the impression that the planning was a really constructive team effort back then, but now the whole morning has been hijacked by presentation, and I assume that the presenters are expected to toe the line or else. Rob Cowan seems particularly uncomfortable in his new persona, particularly in the obsequious interview slot.

[EdgeleyRob]

admit that he had only come across Beni Mora for the first time two months ago on Essential Classics?

Then why not play it instead of Jupiter ?

[Nick Armstrong]

Then why not play it instead of Jupiter ?

You took the very words out of my keyboard...

[amateur51]

I must confess it doesn't surprise me that musicians would have a fairly limited knowledge; after all, they have to focus on a relatively small repertoire as part of their careers.

That'll be why you see so many at 'live' concerts then or in CD shops (as they exist these days )

[amateur51]

I had a couple of requests played on CD Masters some years ago, one was Dino Ciani's Debussy, the other a superb Cluytens LP of extracts from The Damnation of Faust, they were both allotted plenty of programme time.
I was kept very well informed about my request by email, from both Rob Cowan and the production team, it was a model of courtesy. I got the impression that the planning was a really constructive team effort back then, but now the whole morning has been hijacked by presentation, and I assume that the presenters are expected to toe the line or else. Rob Cowan seems particularly uncomfortable in his new persona, particularly in the obsequious interview slot.

Many thanks for this Ferret!

Poor old Rob has taken a panning in here of late and it's nice to be reminded of what he can be like as a broadcaster given a certain amount of free rein. It's his deep knowledge of recordings, and his voracious enthusiasms for new and established favourites that I miss

[Nick Armstrong]

Many thanks for this Feeret!

Poor old Rob has taken a panning in here of late and it's nice to be reminded of what he can be like as a broadcaster given a certain amount of free rein. It's his deep knowledge of recordings, and his voracious enthusiasms for new and established favourites that I miss

Second that ammy, with enthusiasm, and also Ferret's comments about the miscasting of RC esp in those horrid interviews.

How much longer can they go on? That bloody weather forecaster with the claw-like hands last week