Prom 33 - 10.08.14: NYOGB, Schwizgebel / Gardner

[Nick Armstrong]

Louis Schwizgebel dazzled in the Prokofiev ist Piano Concerto, beautifully fleet playing. Sometimes this concerto can seem hectoring, but not this time. A perfect encore followed, Schubert's Standchen.

Just caught the repeat on the radio - yes the piano playing seemed fabulous; I hope the encore will be included when it's broadcast on BBC4 TV (Thursday 28th)... one of Liszt's best pieces!

They seem to have been quite good at including encores on TV - we got both the violin solo and the orchestral encores at the Tonhalle Prom, as played

[Ferretfancy]

Just caught the repeat on the radio - yes the piano playing seemed fabulous; I hope the encore will be included when it's broadcast on BBC4 TV (Thursday 28th)... one of Liszt's best pieces!

They seem to have been quite good at including encores on TV - we got both the violin solo and the orchestral encores at the Tonhalle Prom, as played

Well, yes, it was rather good arr. Liszt, but Schubert did give him something nice to work on !

[Bryn]

Watching on BBC FOUR tonight, and also thinking back to another of his recent presentation appearances on television broadcasts of Proms, I find myself wondering whether Tom Service is on some sort of wager to find just how ridiculous he can look (and sound) in such roles.

[Roslynmuse]

Watching on BBC FOUR tonight, and also thinking back to another of his recent presentation appearances on television broadcasts of Proms, I find myself wondering whether Tom Service is on some sort of wager to find just how ridiculous he can look (and sound) in such roles.

I commented on his R3 presentation of the Berio Sinfonia Prom - truly awful. This is the first televised one I've seen with him and it's embarrassing. At the point you posted yours he hadn't done his inarticulate post-Lutoslawski eulogy.

[Barbirollians]

Whoever chooses these new generation artists knows what they are doing though - like so many before him young Mr Schweizgebel is a serious talent .

[Nick Armstrong]

Just arrived home and checked that the recording of the TV broadcast was ok... and that the piano encore had been included (magical, despite the extent of the pianist's agonising perspiration, and the apparent screaming of a baby in the auditorium )

Perhaps said infant had unwittingly overheard the ludicrous Service's introduction. He has as others have said become utterly absurd and awful in his presentation style. The sentence I am currently typing replaces an obscene and extreme one which I just typed

He is intolerable. Happily, the PVR here has a 'divide track' / 'partial delete' editing facility - I've just excised and deleted his every appearance and syllable, and shall look forward to listening this weekend to what seemed to be some stunning music making, unspoiled by the burbling pretentious buffoon.

Whoever chooses these new generation artists knows what they are doing though - like so many before him young Mr Schweizgebel is a serious talent .

Absolutely

[Blotto]

the ludicrous Service's introduction. He has as others have said become utterly absurd and awful in his presentation style. The sentence I am currently typing replaces an obscene and extreme one which I just typed

He is intolerable. Happily, the PVR here has a 'divide track' / 'partial delete' editing facility - I've just excised and deleted his every appearance and syllable, and shall look forward to listening this weekend to what seemed to be some stunning music making, unspoiled by the burbling pretentious buffoon.

I am surprised by the vehemence of the hostility to Service. He can be a babbling prat sometimes when he's live but I thought his appearances in the BBC4 show were inoffensive, if the closing one was an unnecessary, not very purposeful effusion. I think he's a good guy.

[Nick Armstrong]

I thought his appearances in the BBC4 show were inoffensive, if the closing one was an unnecessary, not very purposeful effusion. I think he's a good guy.

It seems we must agree to differ

[Sir Velo]

It seems we must agree to differ

You mean you didn't like his little asides, coming over as the friendly pub bore, trying to buttonhole anyone who will listen, with his little glosses on what we've heard, and pocket bios of obscure composers we wouldn't heard of, like Prokofiev and Luto?

To be fair to the out of order Service, some of the blame must go with the director whose decision it surely was to have Service standing at the back of the audience, a real Billy No-Mates seemingly desperate to engage someone with his overweening enthusiasm. Indeed the director was surely after the most bizarre filming of a concert award, with the endless close-ups of a perspiring pianist, "artistically" focusing on those little globules of sweat waiting to cascade onto the ivories. Time has surely come for management to take a leaf out of Wimbledon and have ball boys on hand to bring towels out to the performers in between movements.

[pureimagination]

For crying out loud - is this what this forum is all about? Personal vitriol aimed at individual presenters. My suggestion is that you ignore them - tv's and radio's have mute buttons. I don't like to be told by presenters/announcers what emotions I should be expected to feel either, whether before or after a piece I'm listening too. A little info about the composer, the music or performer(s) is sometimes useful but that can be sourced later. Can we get back to the music please.

[Nick Armstrong]

is this what this forum is all about?

No... look around.

My suggestion is that you ignore them.

Precisely. The presenter's been deleted from the recording and I'm looking forward immensely to enjoying the concert this weekend!

Just a pity that the presentation doesn't add to the experience rather than detracting from it.

[pureimagination]

Dozens of posts about Paloma Faith's pose and digs at presenters do take up a lot of space in the Proms threads. I'm guilty too but I'm just trying to steer things back around to discussing opinions on each prom and debate on how others feel about whether the BBC/Radio 3/Proms organisers can/should encourage a broader audience.

[teamsaint]

Dozens of posts about Paloma Faith's pose and digs at presenters do take up a lot of space in the Proms threads. I'm guilty too but I'm just trying to steer things back around to discussing opinions on each prom and debate on how others feel about whether the BBC/Radio 3/Proms organisers can/should encourage a broader audience.

as we are endlessly told, its the BBC Proms.


Part of the BBC offer, (note the jargon free language I choose here!) is presenters and style. The BBC chooses what it does, from an enormously privileged and powerful position. they have a duty, or should have, to use their resources wisely. They are endlessly telling us, with our money, how great their broadcasting is.
they really can't be surprised if they get negative responses.
Sadly, their chosen presentation styles, (inane presenters, chopped up concerts, breathless and unquestioning cheerleading etc) do detract , for many people, from the broadcast experience. If people just put up with it....well that way bad things lie.

In any case the VAST, actually overwhelming, bulk of comment on these boards is about the actual music.