tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post7559938810709329368..comments2024-03-26T15:57:13.443+00:00Comments on On An Overgrown Path: BBC launches 'classical idol'Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-58251850631286091622007-10-23T15:59:00.000+01:002007-10-23T15:59:00.000+01:00I do wish we could tune into this in Canada - BBC ...I do wish we could tune into this in Canada - BBC always has the "good" programming!John Broughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10836876751710988224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-82673524817193298572007-10-15T07:25:00.000+01:002007-10-15T07:25:00.000+01:00Chris, I think your last paragraph says it all. It...Chris, I think your last paragraph says it all. <BR/><BR/>It is not only the networks that lack long-term commitment to this style of classical music.<BR/><BR/>If you only feed children blancmange they do not develop teeth.<BR/><BR/>As a result they can only eat blancmange for the rest of their lives.<BR/><BR/>The same applies when you only serve musical blancmange - the audience doesn't develop teeth. Which means concert promoters, broadcasters, record companies, and musicians like you are left with two choices.<BR/><BR/>Switch all your programmes to musical blancmange - which is what BBC Radio 3 did <A HREF="http://theovergrownpath.blogspot.com/2007/08/ingratiating-schmaltzy-egregious-and.html" REL="nofollow">when they hired</A> Paul 'music for lovers' Gambuccini with disastrous results. And which is what they are doing again with their recent changes to the network, and with programmes like 'Classical Star'..<BR/><BR/>Or lose your 'new' audience when you serve up more 'chewy' meals. <BR/><BR/>A generation developed its musical teeth on 'chewy' programmes which included new music delivered by Pierre Boulez (at the BBC ironically) and others, with no blancmange on offer.<BR/><BR/>Has the current generation lost the ability to grow teeth?<BR/><BR/>Happily I don't think so. I've been to <A HREF="http://theovergrownpath.blogspot.com/2007/06/faster-than-sound-aldeburgh-festival.html" REL="nofollow">some wonderfully 'chewy' musical events</A> recently which have attracted new audiences.<BR/><BR/>The audiences are up for it. But ratings obsessed organisations like the BBC are now so risk averse they don't have the bottle to experiment.<BR/><BR/>Thankfully others do. And I will return to them later today.Pliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-32922621569966643512007-10-15T01:33:00.000+01:002007-10-15T01:33:00.000+01:00As a pianist for two seasons on Bravo!Canada's Bat...As a pianist for two seasons on Bravo!Canada's Bathroom Divas (an opera reality show), I heartily disagree with you regarding the relevancy of classical music reality TV. One of the first things that viewers notice is just how darned difficult playing an instrument or singing is. A main part of the attraction for viewers of this type of show is following the stories of the participants and watching them in master classes with the pros. I would like to think that the end result of watching these shows might be to get people in the door of the classical music world and take up music lessons, buy recordings, and go to concerts. <BR/><BR/>My only two reservations about this format are that 1) the repertoire tends toward classical blancmange, and 2) I question networks' long-term commitment toward this type of show, even though they might demonstrate extraordinary ratings (Bathroom Divas was canceled unexpectedly after two successful seasons).Chris Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05248396106719265480noreply@blogger.com