It's a fiddle!

[Vile Consort]

I would have thought any big name conductor would feel insulted to be asked to pretend to conduct.

[Ian]

What is the sound of one cymbal?

Depends on what type of door you hit it with.

[scottycelt]

Careful, folks, it's the Daily Mail ..

[Northender]

Can anyone suggest how the cymbal player might mime?

I heard that their contribution had actually been recorded by The Clash.

[french frank]

Can anyone suggest how the cymbal player might mime?

He clouts it (and misses) with his hammer thing in his right hand and surreptitiously makes it wobble with his left. I don't think anyone would notice from a distance.

[french frank]

Careful, folks, it's the Daily Mail ..

Actually, has any other major media source got the story - other than quoting the Mail?

Add: The Telegraph got it a couple of hours ago http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9309...-Olympics.html

'Nother add: A related story from April http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oly...-recorded.html

[Ian]

I'm sure everybody realises this - but just in case.

When musicians mime for TV they are usually actually performing - it's just that the performance the viewer is hearing at home is one that was recorded earlier.

[Richard Tarleton]

Does anyone else remember the scene in the Munich Olympic Stadium on September 6 1972 at the commemorative service for the murdered Israeli athletes? The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Rudolf Kempe played the Funeral March from Beethoven's Eroica.

I seem to remember they also played Egmont (first).....

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm sure everybody realises this - but just in case.

When musicians mime for TV they are usually actually performing - it's just that the performance the viewer is hearing at home is one that was recorded earlier.

Yes - did anyone else see a programme about Auschwitz which ended with Vengerov walking through the site playing the Bach Chaconne? Presumably we heard the pre-recorded sound, but very effective....(not that that's any excuse in this case)

[scottycelt]

I'm sure everybody realises this - but just in case.

When musicians mime for TV they are usually actually performing - it's just that the performance the viewer is hearing at home is one that was recorded earlier.

Quite, and even if the report is from the Daily Fairy Tale, we might well concede that, against all the odds, it might just happen to be true ....

After all, the same orchestra and conductor apparently recorded the music in a studio, and if it is going to sound better in the arena, and to the watching billions on TV throughout the world by blaring it out via a series of loudspeakers, why not?

I'll just be delighted to see such a rare item as a synphony orchestra on my TV screen for a change, miming or not!

[gurnemanz]

Yes - did anyone else see a programme about Auschwitz which ended with Vengerov walking through the site playing the Bach Chaconne? Presumably we heard the pre-recorded sound, but very effective....(not that that's any excuse in this case)

Not an answer to your point but it reminds me of something similar that made a big impression on me. I was in Germany in the 70's and saw an interview with Arthur Rubinstein on TV there. Having lost many family members in the holocaust, he refused to perform in Germany or Austria after the war, but he agreed that they could play one of his recordings of a piece by Chopin. As the music played, they kept the camera on his face. It was very moving as the memories evoked and the poignancy of the circumstances caused his eyes to fill with tears.

His relationship with Germany was complex. He spoke good German, loved Meistersinger and watched it at Salzburg after the War. One of his daughters was named Eva. There is a fascinating documentary of him visiting the Steinway factory in 1966:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez04D5QzEYs

[Quarky]

"Locog claims that the stadium’s bowl-like shape and the uncertainties of the British weather would make a live concert too risky."

Perhaps Locog's attention should be drawn to the performance of Choir and Orchestra in Thames River Pageant on Sunday.

The Choir seemed drenched to the skin, but it didn't harm their vocal chords any (in fact I felt it added a certain something).

[VodkaDilc]

"Locog claims that the stadium’s bowl-like shape and the uncertainties of the British weather would make a live concert too risky."

Perhaps Locog's attention should be drawn to the performance of Choir and Orchestra in Thames River Pageant on Sunday.

The Choir seemed drenched to the skin, but it didn't harm their vocal chords any (in fact I felt it added a certain something).

Exactly what I thought. Someone could have easily made a decision to play a pre-recorded version and, perhaps, most people would not have realised. As it was, the singers gave a very characterful and moving performance. (Wasn't there a similar debate when musicians mimed at Obama's inauguration? Thought then there was the excuse of a freezing Washington winter.)

[Osborn]

Domingo, Caballe, Berganza, Carreras, Pons, Aragall, Krauss all mimed at the Barcelona Olympics so without doubt the orchestral contributions were also pre-recorded.

[Petrushka]

Perhaps the LSO and Rattle (if he it is) are not thst bothered as long as they get ££££ for doing it. Think I might take the same attitude if I was in their shoes.