Confession time....

[Guest]

Perhaps I should 'fess up' (as I believe young people say), and make it clear that I don't listen to Radio 3 that much, being more of a Radio 4 type. I try not to miss 'Jazz Record Requests', usually enjoy 'Private Passions' and sometimes tune in to 'Essential Classics'.

However, I'm very grateful to the friend who drew my attention to the Forum, from which I have already learned a great deal and derived much enjoyment. Recommendations of recordings and links to 'live' classical music sites are also greatly appreciated. Had it not been for the Forum, I might well have missed the War Requiem from Coventry Cathedral (via 'The Space', of which I had not previously heard).

Much of the discussion about 'Essential Classics' and the 'Breakfast Show', about which people clearly have strong feelings, makes for fascinating reading, but isn't likely to cause me to desert 'Today', I fear.

[eighthobstruction]

Yep....I know where you are coming from Northender....The Early Music Show & Jazz are my main connections

[EdgeleyRob]

Through the night and lunchtime concerts on i player,that's about it.

[Anna]

If I were at home on a weekday then probably about half an hour of Breakfast, then over to R4 as I love Today and then R4 would probably stay on until lunchtime concert unless R4 had some afternoon drama but if I stuck with afternoon R3 it's back to R4 once In Tune starts. Weekends are different, then it's BaL Saturday mornings and JRR is a must in the afternoon, Saturday Classics has turned into aural wallpaper of the heard it all a million times genre. Sundays are a bit iffy schedule wise but definitely CE. Having said all that, I do love R3 but two of the best programmes are TTN and the evening concert. I really dislike the matey chat and the emails and tweetings during the morning. Also, if you leave R4 burbling on all day there's always something of interest (barring The Archers of course and most of their so-called 6.30pm comedy programmes)

[teamsaint]

If I were at home on a weekday then probably about half an hour of Breakfast, then over to R4 as I love Today and then R4 would probably stay on until lunchtime concert unless R4 had some afternoon drama but if I stuck with afternoon R3 it's back to R4 once In Tune starts. Weekends are different, then it's BaL Saturday mornings and JRR is a must in the afternoon, Saturday Classics has turned into aural wallpaper of the heard it all a million times genre. Sundays are a bit iffy schedule wise but definitely CE. Having said all that, I do love R3 but two of the best programmes are TTN and the evening concert. I really dislike the matey chat and the emails and tweetings during the morning. Also, if you leave R4 burbling on all day there's always something of interest (barring The Archers of course and most of their so-called 6.30pm comedy programmes)

In Tune is one of the world's great missed opportunities......could be such a great show. TBF , they do get some good performers, and the music selection isn't the worst on R3.......but even so.....

[Northender]

Radio 4 comedy is a very hit-and-miss affair, don't you think? We're currently enjoying 'Bird Island', but whatever it is that follows it (something about a wizard) is absolutely dreadful.
Radio 4 Extra has enabled us to catch up with some great series that we missed first time around, including 'The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere', 'Cabin Pressure', Uncle Mort's various trips round the UK, and 'Bleak Expectations'. Retirement has its benefits!

[Serial_Apologist]

Radio 4 comedy is a very hit-and-miss affair, don't you think? We're currently enjoying 'Bird Island', but whatever it is that follows it (something about a wizard) is absolutely dreadful.
Radio 4 Extra has enabled us to catch up with some great series that we missed first time around, including 'The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere', 'Cabin Pressure', Uncle Mort's various trips round the UK, and 'Bleak Expectations'. Retirement has its benefits!

The impression often to be gleaned is that Radio 4 comedy programme commissioners must have no sense of humour.

[handsomefortune]

Radio 4 Extra has enabled us to catch up with some great series that we missed first time around,

'the secret world' and 'deadringers' are a personal fave on 4xtra.

Radio 4 comedy programme commissioners must have no sense of humour.

perhaps it's a similar argument as criticism of paxo, humpfries and johnny dimblebee ....: ie far too complacent. typically, weak when it counts most, 'savage' when not required.

worse still, the beeb don't seem to have noticed that many long term employees actually need some competition to maintain any edge (they may once have had).

imo stewart lee nails it as far as 6.30 comedy on friday goes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_LIp39TQkE&feature=autoplay&list=PL5F099B445930A02E&playnext=2

the new comedy the beeb has introduced recently seems to be presented by 'geriatric youngsters' imv, with more in common with jeremy clarkson than anyone genuinely funny. incredibly, the beeb apparently deem this strategy 'edgy', for some irritating reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgABbHPdwH4

i still like 'the news quiz' as it's at least topical. however, i don't bother with much else. i listen to specific programmes on r3, and occasionally r4...(if i'm aware of something being discussed that i find interesting). since there's so much other stuff on the net, lately, trawling through beeb schedules feels suspiciously odd, old hat....though i never thought i'd post as such..... not so long ago.

[french frank]

Much of the discussion about 'Essential Classics' and the 'Breakfast Show', about which people clearly have strong feelings, makes for fascinating reading, but isn't likely to cause me to desert 'Today', I fear.

If you listen to Today, then Essential Classics is tailored specially for you (and the Breakfast audience).

The programme's commissioning brief stated:

"This is a significant part of Radio 3’s weekday daytime schedule and should aim to hold on to as much of the breakfast audience as possible whilst drawing in new listeners from the post-Today Radio 4 switch over ... Presentation should be light and brief, without in-depth musicological or complicated biographical detail."

[handsomefortune]

complicated biographical detail

just blonde/brunette, and like/dislike then instead?

[Flay]

...I'm very grateful to the friend who drew my attention to the Forum, from which I have already learned a great deal and derived much enjoyment. Recommendations of recordings and links to 'live' classical music sites are also greatly appreciated. Had it not been for the Forum, I might well have missed the War Requiem from Coventry Cathedral...

You have nothing to apologise about, Northy. You are very welcome here, and your contributions are greatly appreciated.

I listen to as much R4 as R3, possibly more. It's not a crime.

Like you I have learned a lot from my virtual friends here (many of whom I would love to meet one day). This board has enriched my life in many ways.

Just keep on posting!

[french frank]

complicated biographical detail

just blonde/brunette, and like/dislike then instead?

But you know what musicians are - all those wives, mistresses and children - pretty difficult to take in the details of all those Bachs, for example. And things like whose daughter married which Josef Suk.

As for Radio 4 listeners: in case people hadn't noticed, the BBC Trust regards the Radio 3 listeners as 'a subset of the Radio 4 audience'. Which would seem to make the chief defining characteristic of Radio 3 listeners the fact that they listen to Radio 4 ...

[teamsaint]

But you know what musicians are - all those wives, mistresses and children - pretty difficult to take in the details of all those Bachs, for example. And things like whose daughter married which Josef Suk.

As for Radio 4 listeners: in case people hadn't noticed, the BBC Trust regards the Radio 3 listeners as 'a subset of the Radio 4 audience'. Which would seem to make the chief defining characteristic of Radio 3 listeners the fact that they listen to Radio 4 ...

WEll if that is how the BBC Trust regard me they can......well you know what they can do.

"And still we have to suffer politicians lies...........just give me the good news.........you can keep the bad ."
The Saw Doctors. C 2000
Its no wonder R3 is so unpopular with its core audience as it seems to be run by people who have entirely different values and tastes.

[ahinton]

But you know what musicians are - all those wives, mistresses and children - pretty difficult to take in the details of all those Bachs, for example. And things like whose daughter married which Josef Suk.

Was there any particular reason that you omitted mention of husbands, toyboys et al?

As for Radio 4 listeners: in case people hadn't noticed, the BBC Trust regards the Radio 3 listeners as 'a subset of the Radio 4 audience'. Which would seem to make the chief defining characteristic of Radio 3 listeners the fact that they listen to Radio 4 ...

Well, if any one factor can demontrate beyond all question or dissent the wholehearted faith that may - indeed must - be placed in the wisdom and actions of the BBC Trust, this must surely be it! That said, whilst R3 listeners can and do complain, sometimes bitterly, about Breakfast, In Tune, the prevalence of listener emails, tweets and phoned responses and the errors, over-chattiness and general dumbed-dwon content of certain presenters' presentations, at least R3 doesn't broadcast an interminably long-running everyday story of musical folk with an irritating sig-tune that has a double bass part that even I could manage to play after a mere five minutes' practice (and I've never played a note on a double bass!)...

[eighthobstruction]

I've even been known to watch BBC2/4....hoping these Hollow Crown watsits are going to be good....