Christmas Around Europe

[AuntDaisy]

Isn’t part of the answer to your ‘why shorten it’ question contained in your reference to Martin Handley? He was introducing a BBC Singers concert which is being broadcast in full later this week, so it makes sense that it wasn’t included in Radio 3’s version of the EBU day. It seems that we were also denied Vilnius Voices’ offering which, having heard a bit of it via the BR Klassik link, I think may have been no great loss.

I'd missed that point, it does explain the shortening. Now you can hear it early .

I couldn't see oddoneout's Lisbon concert (which sounds good) in the BR Klassik / HR2 14 hours, but I'm still working through it.

According to this EBU webpage Lisbon was the first in a "marathon of seasonal concerts from 15 EBU organizations in 13 countries".

[oddoneout]

I'd missed that point, it does explain the shortening. Now you can hear it early .

I couldn't see oddoneout's Lisbon concert (which sounds good) in the BR Klassik / HR2 14 hours, but I'm still working through it.

According to this EBU webpage Lisbon was the first in a "marathon of seasonal concerts from 15 EBU organizations in 13 countries".

The first two on the EBU schedule are the last two on the R3 version.
4 live concerts in the line up(but as you say Vilnius not on R3) - quite a challenge I imagine

[Nick Armstrong]

As ever, some gems among this day of broadcasting (Sunday 14 December) - one of the few times in the year when one can safely have Radio 3 on live, with no nasty surprises in terms of presenters and gimmicks (bar the odd intrusive trailer)

I searched quickly and found no thread or comments yet about this year’s edition.

So far I’ve only heard the early segments from Denmark and Vienna, plus some of the later music after Hannah French took over the presenting duties from Andrew McGregor. Looking forward to catching up, in particular on the performances from Spain.

[AuntDaisy]

As ever, some gems among this day of broadcasting (Sunday 14 December) - one of the few times in the year when one can safely have Radio 3 on live, with no nasty surprises in terms of presenters and gimmicks (bar the odd intrusive trailer)

I searched quickly and found no thread or comments yet about this year’s edition.

So far I’ve only heard the early segments from Denmark and Vienna, plus some of the later music after Hannah French took over the presenting duties from Andrew McGregor. Looking forward to catching up, in particular on the performances from Spain.

Very enjoyable (although I haven't listened to R3's version yet.)

Roger W had discussed it over on the "Other Radio Stations" thread - pointing out that Auntie only had a selection of the 14 hours.
Sunday Morning's "Three Hours of Classical Sparkle" could easily have been another 3 hours of EBU Christmas...

[Ein Heldenleben]

As ever, some gems among this day of broadcasting (Sunday 14 December) - one of the few times in the year when one can safely have Radio 3 on live, with no nasty surprises in terms of presenters and gimmicks (bar the odd intrusive trailer)

I searched quickly and found no thread or comments yet about this year’s edition.

So far I’ve only heard the early segments from Denmark and Vienna, plus some of the later music after Hannah French took over the presenting duties from Andrew McGregor. Looking forward to catching up, in particular on the performances from Spain.

Yes a rare day of whole uninterrupted pieces , many masterpieces indeed , no personal anecdotes and simple presentation. Listened pretty much throughout the day but was forced to bail out late in the day by Ēriks Ešenvalds Zurich Mass.

Other than that highly enjoyable.l

[mopsus]

Unfortunately the advance listings such as 'Christmas music from the Renaissance to the present day' 'Christmas Carols from across the continent' don't give an indication of the schmaltz quota for each contribution. We had to pull the plug on the Hannover girls' choir for this reason, but fared better later with Riga.

Unrelated to this topic (I apologise) but there was some gloriously unrelated filler music on Saturday night 'while we wait to rejoin Andrea Chénier from the Metropolitan Opera, here's a short piece by Orlando Gibbons'.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Unfortunately the advance listings such as 'Christmas music from the Renaissance to the present day' 'Christmas Carols from across the continent' don't give an indication of the schmaltz quota for each contribution. We had to pull the plug on the Hannover girls' choir for this reason, but fared better later with Riga.

Unrelated to this topic (I apologise) but there was some gloriously unrelated filler music on Saturday night 'while we wait to rejoin Andrea Chénier from the Metropolitan Opera, here's a short piece by Orlando Gibbons'.

Can’t think of a better verismo antidote ….

Schmaltz levels varied throughout the day perhaps reaching a peak with a rather operatic German Baritone “doing “ ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ complete with symphony orchestra. This piece should only be performed by Judy Garland.

[vinteuil]

Schmaltz levels varied throughout the day perhaps reaching a peak with a rather operatic German Baritone “doing “ ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ complete with symphony orchestra. . This piece should only be performed by Judy Garland.

... wrong. This piece should not be performed.

[Ein Heldenleben]

... wrong. This piece should not be performed.

A propos of nothing in particular Meet Me In St Louis is a seriously weird film. The treatment handed out to the Maureen O’Brien character Tootie is tantamount to child abuse . Little known factoid - the original lyric was “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas , It May Be Your Last. “
Catchy eh ?

[oddoneout]

Can’t think of a better verismo antidote ….

Schmaltz levels varied throughout the day perhaps reaching a peak with a rather operatic German Baritone “doing “ ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ complete with symphony orchestra. This piece should only be performed by Judy Garland.

R3 edited those bits out, choosing instead the 'proper' music segments. Perhaps our Sam didn't have the final say in the selection as that Bratislava segment was right up his street I would have thought...