Prom 7 (18.7.12): Handel – Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks

[Bryn]

And while we're at it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI332KcMxpY&feature=player_detailpage

[Ferretfancy]

I've just got round to watching the HD recording of this Prom, which in my view managed to almost completely destroy the exhilaration of the live event. Why has television so spectacularly failed over the years to establish any sort of visual grammar for showing classical concerts ? Every single phrase of the music came with a cut to close ups of the players, intercut with shots of Nique's admittedly exaggerated gestures.This served to make him look rather ridiculous, and that is certainly not the case.

I sympathise with those who were looking forward to seeing this concert at home. The presentation was a travesty. better to listen on FM than be subjected to this.

[VodkaDilc]

I've just got round to watching the HD recording of this Prom, which in my view managed to almost completely destroy the exhilaration of the live event. Why has television so spectacularly failed over the years to establish any sort of visual grammar for showing classical concerts ? Every single phrase of the music came with a cut to close ups of the players, intercut with shots of Nique's admittedly exaggerated gestures.This served to make him look rather ridiculous, and that is certainly not the case.

I sympathise with those who were looking forward to seeing this concert at home. The presentation was a travesty. better to listen on FM than be subjected to this.

I had similar thoughts when watching the televised version of the B Minor Mass. I had listened to the Prom on R3 and enjoyed it enormously. (Without getting into the controversial matter of the horn, I thought all the other instruments sounded magical. If the horn-playing sounded effortful, perhaps that's what Bach intended.) Listening again in TV was a let-down; never more so than the final minutes, when HB gave individual credit to the instrumental soloists in turn. Here was a chance for TV to do what radio could not - but all we got was a general stage view, with no attempt to show who the enormous ovations were being given to. I agree with Ferret: I'll keep to R3.

[JohnSkelton]

There is an old maxim, much used in the political and managerial fields:

"You must learn to listen - and by listening you couldl learn something.

Let's just put the knives away and show a few good manners.

HS

A maxim which you routinely ignore (see your entirely predictable comments relating to Boulez's music at the Proms). Perhaps you might for a moment consider the possibility that some of the "armchair critics" here might have extensive musical experience and knowledge - there are other paths in music to playing in a symphony orchestra, despite your apparent belief that anyone who has done so is an unassailable expert.

[amateur51]

A maxim which you routinely ignore (see your entirely predictable comments relating to Boulez's music at the Proms). Perhaps you might for a moment consider the possibility that some of the "armchair critics" here might have extensive musical experience and knowledge - there are other paths in music to playing in a symphony orchestra, despite your apparent belief that anyone who has done so is an unassailable expert.

Those who can, do; those who can't end up in management, JS

[french frank]

establish any sort of visual grammar for showing classical concerts

An excellent phrase - one that might be passed on to the BBC for a response!

[heliocentric]

an old maxim, much used in the political and managerial fields

Is that supposed to be a recommendation?