Good to be here!

[ChrisBennell]

I have been regularly following this forum for some time, and finally had to take the plunge and join! As a keen listener to the Third Programme and later Radio 3, I got started in January 1956 at 14. I remember that particularly as it was the 200th centenary of the birth of Mozart, and this was well celebrated on the Third Programme. Over the years, I remember attending some stunning concerts - Klemperer (Bruckner 9), Kempe (Brahms), Barbirolli (Mahler 1), Rattle (War Requiem) and particularly the first one I ever attended in 1956 which was Bernard Herrmann with the LSO at the RFH (Dvorak New World). Still have the programmes for some of these. I also regret the slide of Radio 3 into mediocrity at times, but look forward to the new Director of R3. I have many R3 cassettes from the 80s and 90s, which are still a joy to listen to (especially the announcers with no added hype) - I have transferred quite a number to CD, as they are beginning to deteriorate.

[french frank]

Hello, Chris - welcome. I was going to say, 'You'd better reserve judgement on whether it's going to be 'Good to be here' - but if you've been lurking you'll probably know the best and the WORST of this place!