Presenters - Again

[muzzer]

I tuned in to TTN this morning on catch-up, and was delighted to hear it presented by Danielle Jalowiecka, who has such a great voice, as has been observed of course elsewhere. I don’t know if this is a regular thing, but I hope so. TTN keeps me sane. The presenters are all excellent and benefit from the format, as well of course as it going out at a time when there is no ‘playlister’….

[oddoneout]

I tuned in to TTN this morning on catch-up, and was delighted to hear it presented by Danielle Jalowiecka, who has such a great voice, as has been observed of course elsewhere. I don’t know if this is a regular thing, but I hope so. TTN keeps me sane. The presenters are all excellent and benefit from the format, as well of course as it going out at a time when there is no ‘playlister’….

or adverts or news headlines...
I heard her live yesterday, sleep having departed at about 3-30 am, and was pleased that she seemed to be doing fine.

[kernelbogey]

...As well as the music I wanted the context presented in an intelligent and erudite way. I didn't mind that Discovering Music was (to me) often hard going. If I'm a snob it was in being infuriated by hearing of a listener who (for a BBC survey) had been asked to listen to Discovering Music and said, "It was interesting but it was above my head. I wouldn't listen to it." Why not listen to it because it was "above your head"? What is it you want from a radio station that I don't (and vice versa)...

There is something in that phrase that echoes a class-based view of learning that is very British (perhaps English). I beieve it works both ways - some well-educated people think that the less well-educated cannot, or do not want to, appreciate 'erudite' discourse or high art (e.g. opera). And some less well-educated people would consider those things the preserve of those they perceive to be higher on the social scale.

The original remit of the BBC was, I believe, taken seriously by the post-war management, and I beiieve that the style and content of the Third embodied that idealism. I recall the Network Three content, introduced later, as being frankly educative in a more accessible style.

Among the many factors that have brought about the shift to the Playlist culture is the ubiquity of information via the internet. So if you hear a piece of music by someone you haven't heard of you can find out in a trice. This and many other factors have contributed to the slow demise of the old Radio Three style of an RP-sounding male speaking to others of his class in their mutually-understood language - a style easily criticised and caricatured in classist terms.

[french frank]

I agree with others on this forum that TTN is the gold standard now on R3.

When people say they like a presenter or enjoy their programme or praise them, they are telling us something about themselves not about the presenter. It's about as informative as saying, "I like The Lark Ascending or Winterreise".

Additionally:

There is something in that phrase [above my head] that echoes a class-based view of learning that is very British (perhaps English). I beieve it works both ways - some well-educated people think that the less well-educated cannot, or do not want to, appreciate 'erudite' discourse or high art (e.g. opera). And some less well-educated people would consider those things the preserve of those they perceive to be higher on the social scale.

Yes, I think that's right. I would have considered myself 'well-educated' - but not about classical music and I felt a need to remedy that to some extent. But there are all varieties of opinions: there are equally 'well-educated people' who have no interest in 'remedying' their ignorance in certain fields. I am also that person - there are huge gaps in my knowledge which I have no interest in filling.

[Paulie55]

Georgia Mann and EC

Now i'm sure that Georgia is a very nice person but she does tend to witter on endlessly when reading out suggestions for the playlist. In fact, the other day she nattered for 7 or more minutes before the next piece of music was played. I've said this before and I'll say it again....Radio 3 is the ONLY serious classical music station on the BBC and in the UK, so please let us hear more actual MUSIC rather than presenters who love the sound of their own voices. I'm sorry but we are not interested in hearing about your pathetic attempts to play certain pieces or telling us about your family. You are NOT our friends, you are broadcasters with a sense of duty to play a programme of music, full works rather than bleeding chunks. Even during the afternoon concert, we are constantly being told what is coming up next, followed by a brief excerpt from said work. We don't all have the attention span of a brain-dead flea so stop insulting us....and don't get me started on the annoying adverts that crop up far too regularly.

[pastoralguy]

Oh, I rather like the lovely Georgia. I love her rather snarky comments and her voice is lovely. If all I wanted to hear was pure music I’d stick a cd on or, as others have suggested, play TTN on BBC Sounds.

[Alison]

Yes I’m with Pasters here regarding Georgia.

My gripe would be more with the Afternoon Concert format these days which regularly feels messy and unsatisfying.

[Old Grumpy]

Yes I’m with Pasters here regarding Georgia.

Or should be Pastures?

[Paulie55]

Oh, I rather like the lovely Georgia. I love her rather snarky comments and her voice is lovely. If all I wanted to hear was pure music I’d stick a cd on or, as others have suggested, play TTN on BBC Sounds.

Sory, I can't agree....far too much talking and I listen to Radio 3 for the music, not the chat....otherwise, what's the point of having a classical music station where the talk outshines the music?

[hmvman]

I come down on Paulie55's side on this one. GM's wittering has caused me to abandon listening to EC most of the time. I will occasionally listen if Tom McKinney's presenting but really I find it a dog of a programme.

[smittims]

And all too often Georgia's 'snarky comments' are factual inaccuracies . Not what we pay for from the BBC.

[Serial_Apologist]

Sorry, I can't agree....far too much talking and I listen to Radio 3 for the music, not the chat....otherwise, what's the point of having a classical music station where the talk outshines the music?

I took PG as being ironic!

[JasonPalmer]

Hard to judge, presenting must be a difficult job stretching or cutting chat depending on how time constraints work out between plays or live performances.

[oddoneout]

Now i'm sure that Georgia is a very nice person but she does tend to witter on endlessly when reading out suggestions for the playlist. In fact, the other day she nattered for 7 or more minutes before the next piece of music was played. I've said this before and I'll say it again....Radio 3 is the ONLY serious classical music station on the BBC and in the UK, so please let us hear more actual MUSIC rather than presenters who love the sound of their own voices. I'm sorry but we are not interested in hearing about your pathetic attempts to play certain pieces or telling us about your family. You are NOT our friends, you are broadcasters with a sense of duty to play a programme of music, full works rather than bleeding chunks. Even during the afternoon concert, we are constantly being told what is coming up next, followed by a brief excerpt from said work. We don't all have the attention span of a brain-dead flea so stop insulting us....and don't get me started on the annoying adverts that crop up far too regularly.

There have been times recently when I've felt there has been more talking than is necessary, but I don't know how much that is her choice and how much is external pressure. However I would say as a general observation that the days when the morning schedules delivered "proper" R3 output have long gone, and it is arguably a waste of energy expecting something different now. What is of infinitely more concern to me is that the so-called Afternoon Concert not only caught the EC disease a while back but is now showing signs of succumbing completely. The format has been chaotic for some time and getting more unsatisfactory by the week, the quantity of chat is rapidly increasing, there are tweets read out, some sort of spot the connection challenge and the adverts get ever more intrusive (since when has pushing 6 nations TV.catch up coverage been part of a concert requirement?) and time wasting. Time was I could settle down and listen to an afternoon of music, often in the process hearing things I either wouldn't have chosen to listen to(but stuck with because of what came before and after) or that I didn't know - not any longer. There are items that are of interest but they are frequently chopped up and/or scattered about (not even on the same day sometimes)and I really can't be bothered fiddling around with the mute/off button second guessing when to start listening again to catch the rest.
I know that I and others have said that EC could and should use its generous airtime to play longer and complete repertoire. What seems to have happened is that EC carries on doing what it always has, but AC is now sacrificed.

[ChandlersFord]

Pretty sure that just before Christmas, I heard Sarah Walker (was it?) announce a piece by a German composer previously unknown to me. His name, as pronounced by her, was ‘Shuts.’