Apart from 'Through the Night' this is the programme I listen to more than any other Radio or TV, largely to broaden my horizons by hearing what people think who are very different from me.
Recently it underwent a much-needed reformation with the arrival of Emma Barnet ; gone are the knitting and cookery items, in come sometimes cobnfrontational interiews on current affairs
It's also very different from Radio 3; but I recommend it nonetheless. On being asked to mention what gets them through these awful times we're living in, one listener said 'Radio 3'. This is a change from a former episode which contained the most delightful blooper I've heard on Radio 4.
Jane Garvey was interviewing Marin Alsop, and the final question was ' if you were conducting what you knew would be your last concert, what would you choose?' Ms Alsop said 'It would have to be Brahms' Requiem'.
They then played her out with a passage from Vaughan Williams' 'Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis' after which Jane said '...lovely bit of Brahms' Requiem there'. I almost fell off my chair. Later in the programme she said 'before we move on, for all those who contacted us to point out our mistake, earlier - classical music fans - we're SORRY'; the last word stressed in what sounded to me like hurt resentment.
I don't think anyone should have to apologise for not knowing the name of a piece of music. But I think the mistake should have been corrected. It wasn't.
Recently it underwent a much-needed reformation with the arrival of Emma Barnet ; gone are the knitting and cookery items, in come sometimes cobnfrontational interiews on current affairs
It's also very different from Radio 3; but I recommend it nonetheless. On being asked to mention what gets them through these awful times we're living in, one listener said 'Radio 3'. This is a change from a former episode which contained the most delightful blooper I've heard on Radio 4.
Jane Garvey was interviewing Marin Alsop, and the final question was ' if you were conducting what you knew would be your last concert, what would you choose?' Ms Alsop said 'It would have to be Brahms' Requiem'.
They then played her out with a passage from Vaughan Williams' 'Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis' after which Jane said '...lovely bit of Brahms' Requiem there'. I almost fell off my chair. Later in the programme she said 'before we move on, for all those who contacted us to point out our mistake, earlier - classical music fans - we're SORRY'; the last word stressed in what sounded to me like hurt resentment.
I don't think anyone should have to apologise for not knowing the name of a piece of music. But I think the mistake should have been corrected. It wasn't.