The Culture Minister speaks ...

[amateur51]

I attended a couple of events held at London's South Bank Centre about five years ago to celebrate & discuss Venezuela's El Sistema and UK's response to it. Vaizey was amongst the panellists and was very full of praise for what he had seen & heard. Issues of funding were raised by that well-known cultural terrorist and agent provocateur Julian Lloyd-Webber, who is/was Chair of the England operation, and from Vaizey's reaction one might have thought that Julian had sworn in Church or somesuch, in suggesting that if/when Vaizey came to hold cultural purse-strings he would be favourably disposed to an approach.

The words that formed in my head were 'self-seeking lightweight'.

[french frank]

if it were at all needed Vaizey is just another argument for closing Oxbridge and Public Schools; there are cheaper ways of creating self satisfied arses

How about Tom Watson MP - from King Charles I School, Kidderminster (now mixed secondary with academy status). He was urging on Guardian listeners the other day the advantage of moving 6 Music on to Radio 3's FM slot. Like other 'discriminating music fans' Watson is himself a 'self-confessed huge fan' of 6 Music.

With politicians like him - be more afraid than of Vaizey. [Of Radio 3 listeners he says: "There are so few Radio 3 listeners they could all be given free digital radios and training in how to press the buttons."]

[amateur51]

How about Tom Watson MP - from King Charles I School, Kidderminster (now mixed secondary with academy status). He was urging on Guardian listeners the other day the advantage of moving 6 Music on to Radio 3's FM slot. Like other 'discriminating music fans' Watson is himself a 'self-confessed huge fan' of 6 Music.

With politicians like him - be more afraid than of Vaizey. [Of Radio 3 listeners he says: "There are so few Radio 3 listeners they could all be given free digital radios and training in how to press the buttons."]

I think Cerys needs to have a word.

Like "Peidiwch bachgen anwybodus!"

[Beef Oven!]

if it were at all needed Vaizey is just another argument for closing Oxbridge and Public Schools; there are cheaper ways of creating self satisfied arses

I think that's a bit strong!

Although people like Clegg, Cameron et al, could also be considered self-satisfied arses, some pretty damn fine people have come from Oxbridge.

I don't think that the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge should be closed down (but I don't have the benefit of those other reasons that you know about).

If however, you win the argument and these to universities are closed, I think it's only fair that a 3-year lag should be given, so that all current students can complete their courses.

[antongould]

I am told that he has tweeted that this morning he listened to Breakfast on R3. I hope there was less chat than usual.

Lots of jolly chat but sadly no concert in Alnwick......

[jean]

if it were at all needed Vaizey is just another argument for closing Oxbridge and Public Schools; there are cheaper ways of creating self satisfied arses

Although people like Clegg, Cameron et al, could also be considered self-satisfied arses, some pretty damn fine people have come from Oxbridge.

The answer is to close the Public Schools; then it won't be necessary to close Oxbridge.

[Beef Oven!]

The answer is to close the Public Schools; then it won't be necessary to close Oxbridge.

But many of those 'pretty damn fine people' got to Oxbridge from the public schools. So it looks like the argument won't be won. Phew, that's a relief all-round!

[french frank]

Lots of jolly chat but sadly no concert in Alnwick......

Vaizey is MP for Wantage, so I doubt he'd have been likely to make the trip to Alnwick anyway.

[Flosshilde]

I saw him at a performance of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at the Coliseum after he lost his ministerial job - he seemed to be enjoying himself.

Yes, but did he enjoy the music?

[Bryn]

I saw him at a performance of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at the Coliseum after he lost his ministerial job - he seemed to be enjoying himself.

So he likes muddle, but what about music?

[Flosshilde]

Janet Street-Porter was berating the minister in the Indy today, & praising R3. "The highlight of my listening week is 'CD Review' on Radio3 ... . 'Live from the Met' is another gem, unencumbered by jingles, ads and pointless explanations"

& I wonder when was the last time she listened on a Saturday evening?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

By the way - I never did understand what IIRC means.

If I recall correctly?

[french frank]

& I wonder when was the last time she listened on a Saturday evening?

Sat 10 May, apparently! However:

"... the term “accessible” is one of my most loathed tags, over-used by politicians on a daily basis, as if it validates the second-rate. Why can’t the public be trusted to make their own choices when it comes to the arts? What’s wrong with the difficult and complex? "

I think 'accessible' would go into my list of 'words that set my teeth on edge'. It seems meaningless in isolation: accessible in what way and to whom?

[Quarky]

Ed seems to be retreating somewhat from his "not Radio 3" position, according to his Twitter account https://twitter.com/edvaizey , in which he praise last night's In Tune. Memories of a German Nation

And see his speech to Radio Festival in which he praises R3 Brahms programmes: https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...-festival-2014

This gives a fairer view of his musical tastes - Absolute 80s! ((but I do wish he wouldn't kowtow to hardnuts in the mobile business- Apple's CEO - who look at the balance sheet first and foremost).



He has been in his current position since at least 2006, I think, so I guess Radio 3 has been part of his portfolio for some time. I would have concluded that there is not going to be much change, were it not for Radio 3's depressing listener figures- particularly compared with Radio 6.

But I can't help feeling this thread is making good copy, but may be a storm in a teacup.

[Nick Armstrong]

"I tell you what I don't like about Radio 3 - you can be there, late at night, think I'll wack a bit o' Radio 3 on to help me get to sleep after the rigours of the day, and instead of some nice little mellow plonky-plonk to aid you in this endeavour you get some BOMBASTIC, SYMBOLS CRASHING, MARCH US OF TO WAR SORT OF ASSAULT UPON THE EARS that makes you... well, you just can't get to the off button quick enough! You know what I mean? Just no respect for the twilight zone, that station. None whatsoever." Would that be the jazz, Late Junction or World on 3, I wonder.

I'll probably be flayed alive but bring it on... I'd side with EV on the late evening offering. Fortunately my hours tend to coincide with TTN, but on occasion when preparing for nocturnal oblivion a little earlier, I find little to enjoy on R3, to my taste at any rate.

E.g. this evening: "Hear the Malawian gourd kazoo in tonight’s #LateJunction"

Indeed, last night too, I enjoyed getting to know Stenhammar's First Piano Concerto thanks to Classic FM in preference to the R3 offering...