Pronunciation watch

[ilbalen]

If Alexandra Wilson (presenter of Saturday's broadcast of Rossini's Otello) is supposedly an expert on Italian opera, why couldn't she manage to pronounce Evelino Pidò's surname correctly? Alexandra, cara, it ain't PEE-do, but Pi-DOH.

And as for friend Suzy's announcement of Franz LAY-har this morning (never mind the choice of wet Alfie Boe to sing a whiskery English translation of 'Lippen schweigen') ...

[Mr Pee]

I really can't get too discombobulated about some differences of pronunciation I'm afraid. As long we understand which composer is being referred to, and the pronunciation isn't completely idiotic, does it really matter?

By the way, is it IlBAAlen, EYElbalen, EYELBAAlen, or IlbaLEN?

[french frank]

Franz LAY-har

I might support that, if I'd heard it. Hungarian stresses the first syllable. The acute accent changes the quality of the a: it isn't a stress accent.

[mercia]

Saturday's broadcast of Rossini's Otello

What was the performance like?

[Donnie Essen]

Are these sort of threads done for amusement, or do folk get really miffed about these things? I can never tell.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I get miffed about bad grammar more than pronunciation, but I think you already know that, D. E.

[Anna]

Well, I would say Franz LAIR, but what do I know? I don't think a mis-pronunciation spoils anyone's enjoyment of the music does it? I am with EineA, bad grammar is really annoying, as is bad spelling, the total random use of apostrophes and lack of a capital letter at the start of sentences. Oh, and also txt spk.

[french frank]

Are these sort of threads done for amusement, or do folk get really miffed about these things? I can never tell.

I don't get miffed (often) but it's more interest than amusement. There, I'm a linguist

[PatrickOD]

Nag, nag, nag. (as in horse)

[Norfolk Born]

Spelling also matters.... by the way, is it Littleton or Lyttleton?

[Stillhomewardbound]

It's Lyttleton. I think I'm right in saying he was the Chairman of the National Theatre Board and Olivier rarely got on with him.

There's also a Lyttleton in Islington, or at least a statue of one.

[Mr Pee]

Humph was the Chairman of the National Theatre Board? Well, you learn something new every day. What a fount of knowledge these message boards are.

Was the lovely Samantha his PA at the time?

[Norfolk Born]

Yes, I knew it was Lyttleton - I was just attempting to point out the mistake without sounding disproportionately censorious. Did Humph ever play at the Lyttleton, by the way?

[french frank]

Um, oh, dear, nag, nag, nag &c. It's actually Lyttelton, not Lyttleton

[mercia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Lyttelton,_1st_Viscount_Chandos