Essential Classics - a programme surely on the wrong station

[JFLL]

Just to add that there was a classic example of the Fill the Gap with Unannounced Masterpieces syndrome today on EC. The 11.00 slot (published) was Copland's Billy the Kid, something I didn't want to hear, but I thought, wait a minute, that only lasts 20 minutes or so, so that leaves 35-40 minutes unaccounted for in the schedule. And what did we have? First, Bruckner's Christus factus est, well worth hearing, and then Mendelssohn's Octet, one of the masterpieces of the chamber repertoire, in an excellent performance by artists including Christian Tetzlaff, Lisa Batiashvili, Isabelle Faust and Antoine Tamestit, a live recording from the 2008 Spannungen Festival in Heimbach. And the pre-published 'star turn' was Billy the Kid!

EDIT. For the record, the list of substantial works, unheralded, performed in the post-11.00 slot on Essential Classics this week:

Tuesday 26 June 11.29am
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Clarinet Quintet, K.581
Performers: George Pieterson (clarinet), Grumiaux Quartet

Wednesday 27 June 11.26am
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto in G, K.453
Performers: Annerose Schmidt (piano), Dresden Philharmonic, Kurt Masur (conductor)

Thursday 28 June 11.48am
Gustav Holst Lyric Movement for Viola and Orchestra
Performers: Cecil Aronowitz (viola), English Chamber Orchestra, Imogen Holst (conductor)

Friday 29 June 11.27am
Felix Mendelssohn Octet, Op.20
Performers: Christian Tetzlaff, Isabelle Faust, Lisa Batiashvili, Antje Weithaas (violins), Rachel Roberts, Ori Kam (violas), Tanya Tetzlaff, Quirine Viersen (cellos)

Nuff said.

[Caliban]

Just to add that there was a classic example of the Fill the Gap with Unannounced Masterpieces syndrome today on EC. The 11.00 slot (published) was Copland's Billy the Kid, something I didn't want to hear, but I thought, wait a minute, that only lasts 20 minutes or so, so that leaves 35-40 minutes unaccounted for in the schedule. And what did we have? First, Bruckner's Christus factus est, well worth hearing, and then Mendelssohn's Octet, one of the masterpieces of the chamber repertoire, in an excellent performance by artists including Christian Tetzlaff, Lisa Batiashvili, Isabelle Faust and Antoine Tamestit, a live recording from the 2008 Spannungen Festival in Heimbach. And the pre-published 'star turn' was Billy the Kid!

It happens a lot before 11 when the chat with the 'celebrity' goes short, as it increasingly seems to do. The genial Andrew Graham-Dixon last week didn't seem to know much music and was over and done with by not long after 10 45 on the days I listened. The 'design guru' Somebody Bayley this week seems to rejoice in being a self-proclaimed musical ignoramus. What do we gain by having these people on?

[old khayyam]

What do we gain by having these people on?

'Delboy at the opera'

[Serial_Apologist]

By contrast, Simon McBurney on Desert Island Discs this morning was a treasure trove of stimulating musical choices: Aretha Franklin, Gil-Scot Heron, Frank Zappa, Gyorgy Ligeti, a singer from Mali whose name escaped me, a 12-year old Mongolian throat singer...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

By contrast, Simon McBurney on Desert Island Discs this morning was a treasure trove of stimulating musical choices: Aretha Franklin, Gil-Scot Heron, Frank Zappa, Gyorgy Ligeti, a singer from Mali whose name escaped me, a 12-year old Mongolian throat singer...

Yes!
The girl (Vanessa Oucholin) was atonishing - "traditional" Music about lighting a fire that sounded like one of the better Berio Sequenzas.

Other details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kr7q1

[amateur51]

The 'design guru' Somebody Bayley this week seems to rejoice in being a self-proclaimed musical ignoramus. What do we gain by having these people on?

An entire career and reputation smacked heartily to the boundary, one bounce & over the ropes by Cali

Weep into your muesli Bayley, you no-mark

[Caliban]

An entire career and reputation smacked heartily to the boundary, one bounce & over the ropes by Cali

To be fair, I think self-deprecation is one of his little 'trade-marks' ... I still query the usefulness or appropriateness of peopling a station like Radio 3 with people like him.

[Barbirollians]

I am afraid I find Sarah Walker's voice like curdled cream . I have had the misfortune of hearing quite a bit of the programme this week - the car CD player being kaput and she talks even more drivel than Cowan . Moreover, it is clear that neither of them have any idea how to interview someone .

[cloughie]

An entire career and reputation smacked heartily to the boundary, one bounce & over the ropes by Cali

Weep into your muesli Bayley, you no-mark

You'd think we were taliking about Trevor 'Boilers' Bailey mind you, his stone-walling rarely troubled the ropes!

[aeolium]

An entire career and reputation smacked heartily to the boundary, one bounce & over the ropes by Cali

Is Caliban South African?