Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[AuntDaisy]

There’s a New Yorker Cartoon where a parrot is pictured listening to the radio.
The radio says “That was the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields ..”
The parrot interrupts and completes with “conducted by by Sir Neville Mariner.”
That’s immortality …

Brilliant, I'd not heard that before.

Think I've found the cartoon on-line here. (High res. image here if anyone can read the cartoonist's name.)

[french frank]

Think I've found the cartoon on-line here. (High res. image here if anyone can read the cartoonist's name.)

rodriguez?

[Old Grumpy]

rodriguez?

From Aunt Daisy's link in post 4471

It’s not just us, by the way. Turn on any classical radio station and you’re guaranteed to hear the ASMF at some point or another, probably conducted by Neville Marriner. This phenomenon was parodied back in the 80s by cartoonist Charles Rodrigues in the magazine Stereo Review. A man listens to his radio announce “the Academy of St Martin in the Fields,” while his parrot chimes in, “Neville Marriner conducting.”

[AuntDaisy]

From Aunt Daisy's link in Live in Concert Wed 18 April - Kalevi Aho

Thanks french frank & Old Grumpy - I'd missed it.

[french frank]

Thanks french frank & Old Grumpy - I'd missed it.

OG did better than me! Although I read the signature as rodrigues I veered off the wrong way and identified him as Edel Rodriguez - also a cartoonist, still living, who has contributed to the New Yorker. First with my answer but I have to hand the gold over to OG

[Old Grumpy]

OG did better than me! Although I read the signature as rodrigues I veered off the wrong way and identified him as Edel Rodriguez - also a cartoonist, still living, who has contributed to the New Yorker. First with my answer but I have to hand the gold over to OG

Gratefully received!

[Piazolla]

I believe Georgia Mann is billed to be back for the following two weeks, at least :-)

Oh, dear! I keep hoping she'll be replaced for good at some time! I enjoy the music on Essential Classics, I know some have criticized it, but for a morning show I feel it's pitched about right and nice to hear the occasional gem I've not heard before!

[Roger Webb]

Oh, dear! I keep hoping she'll be replaced for good at some time!

Me too! I submitted my Playlist contribution (Ayumi Tanaka's 'Ruins II') and thanked Skellers for his week, using the opportunity to tell his producer that I'll be back to my usual morning fare of WDR3, BR and YLE when Georgia returns next week.

[LMcD]

Oh, dear! I keep hoping she'll be replaced for good at some time! I enjoy the music on Essential Classics, I know some have criticized it, but for a morning show I feel it's pitched about right and nice to hear the occasional gem I've not heard before!

Be careful what you wish for ...Tom Service might be free on weekdays! Or perhaps another presenter could be lured away from Classic FM - Alexander Armstrong, Alan Titchmarsh, David Mellor...?

[Pulcinella]

Be careful what you wish for ...Tom Service might be free on weekdays! Or perhaps another presenter could be lured away from Classic FM - Alexander Armstrong, Alan Titchmarsh, David Mellor...?

I thought that his 'If you liked that you might like this' programme was actually pretty good!

[Roger Webb]

I thought that his 'If you liked that you might like this' programme was actually pretty good!

I did too! He was a colleague of one of my lawyer customers in my CD shop who assured me that Mellor's really knew his stuff and that they went round the record shops together in their lunch breaks when in chambers together in London. Didn't he take part in the 'investigation' into CD pricing too?

The 'if you liked that...' spot was a bit like the Playlist of EC, but infinitely better because of Mellor's knowledge of repertoire and - importantly recordings.

[french frank]

I thought that his 'If you liked that you might like this' programme was actually pretty good!

I wouldn't want to dispute Mellors's knowledge (and love) of classical music. What irritates me is this sense that the BBC is trying to form some cosy sort of personal relationship between me and the radio station (R3)/ presenter. I just want the information and the music. Forget what you think about me and what I like: I'll be the judge of that. And in some sort of way I want to hear what I think I don't like because that's what I'm less likely to listen to.** I may be odd but I'm still a human being .

** Like going into my local Hungarian caff and ordering Diznotoros because I don't like black pudding. Tell me I'm wrong, for God's sake! Open my eyes and ears

[vinteuil]

And in some sort of way I want to hear what I think I don't like because that's what I'm less likely to listen to.** I may be odd but I'm still a human being

... in the 'olden days' when one used to visit record/CD shops there was often a section labelled 'easy listening'. Visiting one such once with a colleague whose tastes were even more austere and astringent-loving than mine (and who was braver than me), he went up to the desk to enquire the whereabouts of the 'difficult listening' section

.

[Roger Webb]

. And in some sort of way I want to hear what I think I don't like because that's what I'm less likely to listen to.[/B]

Bring back The Innocent Ear, that's what I say....preferably without a presenter!

[french frank]

... in the 'olden days' when one used to visit record/CD shops there was often a section labelled 'easy listening'. Visiting one such once with a colleague whose tastes were even more austere and astringent-loving than mine (and who was braver than me), he went up to the desk to enquire the whereabouts of the 'difficult listening' section

Is he married? No, I don't mean that - just a joke .