Televised Proms

[Prommer]

Isn't all this a culture-cringe? Or perhaps a desperate desire to show outreach, in order to form a protective wall against those who would smash down the citadels (i.e. politicians and populists)?

To me, it just comes across like an ageing relative who is still determined to get down with the kids... with embarrassing results for all concerned.

Patronising in the extreme of the 'little people' who cannot attend a concert without fidgeting or access to sugar. Oh yes, treating people like children in fact.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Isn't all this a culture-cringe? Or perhaps a desperate desire to show outreach, in order to form a protective wall against those who would smash down the citadels (i.e. politicians and populists)?

Many of these feeble attempts at outreach fall into the same trap - accepting the daft idea that classical music is "elitist" and that the performers wear "penguin suits, etc.

A Music Service concert given by teachers in schools insisted that all the players (mostly of an age at which it didn't work) wore red T-shirts (which resembles the summer uniform of one of the schools) with the music service logo on it. All it did was to emphasise the beer bellies of many of the performers. As for the music itself… don't get me going on that one.

[MrGongGong]

This on "Today", today.

A great idea (as long as the musicians get paid!) and widespread in other musics (and some restaurants )

Any good?!

Yes, very

[teamsaint]

A great idea (as long as the musicians get paid!) and widespread in other musics (and some restaurants )



Yes, very

football was an early adopter of this idea..

[Prommer]

Yes, very

There's hope for you yet! If only someone will wave the magic Wand...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A great idea (as long as the musicians get paid!) and widespread in other musics (and some restaurants )

In "other musics", the sound is often amplified so much that no-one needs to make the effort to listen.

[MrGongGong]

In "other musics", the sound is often amplified so much that no-one needs to make the effort to listen.

BINGO

You hate amplification almost as much as I hate DoG

[Prommer]

I cannot believe, given that it is Bryn and being semi-staged, that Fiddler on the Roof is NOT being televised!!

[Bryn]

BINGO

You hate amplification almost as much as I hate DoG

Heh, heh. This issue takes me back to a session of Cardew's Morley College Experimental Music Class. He was going on about his dislike of electronic amplification in music, citing the circularity of speaker cones and one of his bugbears. I recalled the daft idea of Yamaha re. speaker drive unit design:



Ya gorra laff, innit.

[french frank]

I cannot believe, given that it is Bryn and being semi-staged, that Fiddler on the Roof is NOT being televised!!

Ah, that Bryn. In context I was momentarily baffled.

Well, clearly BBC Two which would have taken it in years gone by has been cut down to first and last nights only. And BBC Four has got its quota, including Bernstein, Story of Swing, Whitacre, Sinatra. I expect BBC Television felt it necessary to keep some classical concerts on television …

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ah, that Bryn. In context I was momentarily baffled.

Me, too. (Now, I would have forked out for a ticket, rail fare and accommodation to see that gig!)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

BINGO

You hate amplification almost as much as I hate DoG

Oh, much much more. It started when I was conducting The Merry Widow for a local society. We had very good singers and orchestra, and we had everything beautifully balanced - until the "technical rehearsal" when a group of theatre technicians took over and ruined everything - stage and orchestra sound blasting out of speakers in front behind and on both sides of the audience. I said I would only accept subtle sound enhancement from the front speakers. They told me it couldn't be done, at which point I produced a pair of wire clippers.

Within 24 hours, the matter was rectified.

[Serial_Apologist]

Oh, much much more. It started when I was conducting The Merry Widow for a local society. We had very good singers and orchestra, and we had everything beautifully balanced - until the "technical rehearsal" when a group of theatre technicians took over and ruined everything - stage and orchestra sound blasting out of speakers in front behind and on both sides of the audience. I said I would only accept subtle sound enhancement from the front speakers. They told me it couldn't be done, at which point I produced a pair of wire clippers.

Within 24 hours, the matter was rectified.

There's an amusing anecdote about Manfred Mann, broadly in this connection. I'll tell it, if anyone's interested...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There's an amusing anecdote about Manfred Mann, broadly in this connection. I'll tell it, if anyone's interested...

Go on… :biggrin)

[MrGongGong]

Oh, much much more. It started when I was conducting The Merry Widow for a local society. We had very good singers and orchestra, and we had everything beautifully balanced - until the "technical rehearsal" when a group of theatre technicians took over and ruined everything - stage and orchestra sound blasting out of speakers in front behind and on both sides of the audience. I said I would only accept subtle sound enhancement from the front speakers. They told me it couldn't be done, at which point I produced a pair of wire clippers.

Within 24 hours, the matter was rectified.

I once heard a church organist fumble
therefore all organists and organ music are cr*p?


We all have to work with idiots sometimes