The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[cloughie]

... on Private Passions it was Olivia Williams. Who was not uninteresting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Williams

Aye, 'appen

[Norfolk Born]

A programme way past its sell-by date. Another example of celebration of the celebrity culture and playing BCs. Who on earth was (sic) the women with the dreary voice who I heard briefly on yesterday's programme?

'Appen there's summat up with thy radio, lad. T'lass sounded fine to me.

[Nick Armstrong]

... on Private Passions it was Olivia Williams. Who was not uninteresting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Williams

Sounded to me what my father would call "rather a madam"...

[amateur51]

Sounded to me what my father would call "rather a madam"...

[Flay]

Desperate programme this morning. He plays a chunk of Debussy's Reflets dans l’eau, then chips in as soon as it finishes telling us about texting and tweeting, not a breath of information about the piece. Where is the education in all of this? Then we have an interminable fandango, and chatting about Burns and the news (why do we need news on R3 when it is done so much better on R4?).

I'm off to work, anything is better than this

[mercia]

Where is the education in all of this?

is education in the remit ?

[Anna]

I'm off to work, anything is better than this

I saw this post and turned on R3, the first piece he played after the news was Monteverdi's Oh God come to my assistance Well, it made me laugh

[Paul Sherratt]

>>>I'm off to work, anything is better than this

Well errr ...

http://mikophoto.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/The-Miners-of-Serra-Pelada-Brazil-%C2%A9-1986-by-Sebasti%C3%A3o-Salgado-776x528.jpg

[french frank]

is education in the remit ?

Yes.

"Around its core proposition of classical music, its speech-based programming should inform and educate the audience about music and culture."
[...]
"The service should aim to educate audiences about music, broadcasting a wide range of programmes that expose listeners to new and sometimes challenging material they may not otherwise experience."

Radio 3 Service Licence, April 2011

[mercia]

its speech-based programming

I wouldn't have thought there was much speech-based programming on R3. Isn't it primarily a music-based station?

I'm sure Forum members could recommend a book on Debussy piano music to Flay.

[Norfolk Born]

On the other hand, there's a lot more chat than there was.

[french frank]

I wouldn't have thought there was much speech-based programming on R3. Isn't it primarily a music-based station?

And secondarily both speech-based programmes and (arts) speech programmes. But there is less now as the DQF proposals for R3 included cutting back on 'music talks' which I imagine includes the reduction to Discovering Music (and Jazz Library?). It might mean fewer Saturday lunchtime music features (the ones that alternate with Music Matters) as they are relatively expensive.

[Aubade]

I also hate the trailers, news snippets, texts and the other interactivity stuff. I don't want heavy stuff for breakfast but what most rends my heart is all the amputation: movements ripped from context and played bleeding from both ends. Very upset the other day at the C Major prelude that opens the 48, played with lots of sustain and touch, then babbling DJ instead of the Fugue. I was stunned.

Having said that, I am uneasy about shooting the messengers both on Breakfast and elsewhere. I am not a fan of Mr Cowan but the other presenters often bring great musical knowledge and insight. They are just doing what the Director and the Producers are telling them to do.

For example, I can remember shouting at SMP when she first started for "The Messiah" (twice!) and "gonna hear" and "the pianist Alfred Brendel". However, she soon developed into my preferred Breakfast presenter until the production antics started to drag her into The Realms of Irritation.

Incidentally, I am new here (following Charlie Moore's Speccie piece). Anyone recognise my nom de pseud from a gentler age?

[Panjandrum]

They are just doing what the Director and the Producers are telling them to do.

Now, where have we heard that before: "Vee ver only obeying orders from ze commanding officer"?

Sorry, Aubade, but that won't wash: they either are fully on board with management, or what a spineless bunch of lily-livered jobsworths they must be. Martin Handley and Jonathan Swain show how to present without resort to endless banality. Therefore, I think we are letting the others off lightly if we say all this schoolgirl gushing is demanded of them with a loaded gun to their temples.

[Paul Sherratt]

>>Incidentally, I am new here

Aubade, a warm welcome to this curious place

>>Anyone recognise my nom de pseud

Are you Philip Larkin ?