Through the Night - A few thoughts

[french frank]

... just to say I appreciated the velarized Ł in Breslau...

It was only about three years ago, so I think Wrocław is permissible

And slightly veering back towards the OP and music, walking from the station to my hotel I passed the opera house and popped in to get a ticket for the evening's performance. I was asked how much I would like to pay for the seat and said up to (the equivalent of) £20. The astonished reply was that I could buy the entire opera house for that amount ...

[vinteuil]

My experience of opera in Poland was attending Tosca (Tocka) at the Great Theatre in Warsaw (Teatr Wielki Warszawa) - sung in Polish.

Two memories - so many consonants in Polish that one had the feeling that the singers were having to stop all the time to extrude another slew of consonants before getting on with the singing... and that the Theatre was so big because half of it was (quite rightly) taken up by the cloakrooms - because in the winter EVERYONE had furs/capes/ cloaks/boots/galoshes - and because the cloakrooms were so large and efficient everyone got away speedily before the last tram....

[Norfolk Born]

I've noticed that, except when there's an opera, there are two start times during the programme that don't vary, i.e. 0301 amd 0501. As I've never been listening at these times, can anybody explain the reason for these fixed points?

[french frank]

I've noticed that, except when there's an opera, there are two start times during the programme that don't vary, i.e. 0301 amd 0501. As I've never been listening at these times, can anybody explain the reason for these fixed points?

I think the 6-hour programme is produced in 2-hour blocks, which on R3/UK start at c. 1am, c. 3am, and c. 5am. Sometimes they seem to mix and match these blocks as repeats.

[barber olly]

I have listened recently to bits from TTN. It's interesting to hear Norwegian orchestras, particularly Previn conducting the Oslo Phil and Rozhdestvensky conducting Tchaikovsky Manfreed with the same orchestra.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I think TTN has gone somewhat downhill recently, the same works seem to be recycled more frequently and some works have been recycled every month in the same performance or so for several years. Recently the 'popular classics' seem to popping up more frequently as have 'chunks' from works. Often the last hour or so contains more 'popular classics' to deliberately lead into that ghastly Breakfast show. Still TTN remains to some extent among the last bastions for serious classical music lovers on R3.

[Norfolk Born]

I'm afraid you're right on all counts - still, the mixture is still more nutritious than the dog's dinner that 'Breakfast' has become.

[Lateralthinking1]

Interesting comments today. So I was partially right and partially wrong. That tends to be the way.

The programme makes more sense now that the way it is put together, and broadcast, has been described. There was an odd moment just after 5am when it sounded like it was coming to an end - "thank you all for listening and I hoped you found it enjoyable" or something along those lines - and then it continued for another two hours.

I thought it in the main relaxing. Is this a good thing? Probably yes. It was still stimulating - the right balance for that time. It made me realise just how inundated we are with the news and noise "24/7" almost everywhere else. And I like the idea that it is broadcast to several countries, not that this would always be appropriate for the daytime.

There is a hint that the standard might be slipping. That would be a pity. Overall, though, I gather from the comments that TTN could be placed on that rare list of things that have improved. Better to have broadcasting during those hours than none at all and it in some respects symbolizes how R3 used to be. I noted how some even choose it for daytime listening rather than listening to the programmes provided. Perhaps then it could be introduced into future discussions with the BBC as a reference point?

While I will certainly be listening again, I don't intend to wade in further to the debate. I thought though that a bit of discussion might be helpful. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. I feel that I have learnt a lot.

[marthe]

I'm a big fan of TTN, which, for me, starts at 8PM and lasts well past my bedtime. Since we have very little over-the-air classical broadcasting here (New England) anymore, TTN has filled a big void for me. Of course it means listening streamed through my computer speakers, but the quality and variety of selections (overall) as well as the low-key announcing makes this an enjoyable listening experience. Yes, there are repeats of popular classics, but there have been little-known gems as well. Where else could I hear the music of Flemish composer August De Boeck who was my grandmother's voice teacher at the conservatoire in Brussels (circa 1900-1906)? Keep up the good work. Because of the 5-hour time difference, I never hear the end of the program, or Breakfast, for that matter, therefore I can't comment about the content or format of Breakfast compared with TTN.

[greenilex]

Could we persuade some international consortium or national broadcaster to stream TTN and a new TTD back to back 24/7?

Wallpaper maybe, but it's my pattern...