Reith Lectures - Daniel Barenboim

[spacedonkey]

Did anyone else listen to the first of Daniel Barenboim's Reith Lectures this morning on R4? What a brilliant bloke! Highly recommended.

I caught the Q&A at the end. Interesting stuff - though I'm not a big classical music fan and do find it quite elitist and dismissive of more popular forms of music. Definitely agree with him that there should be greater focus on music education in schools though, to expose children to all forms of music.

never really forgiven for abandoning Jaqueline du Pres

there should be a him in that

no he treated her quite badly too hatty
and she was the better musician by a massive margin imho

Well if you're going to discount people on the basis of their behaviour in their personal lives then you're going to miss out on a lot of good thinkers!

Oh I agree spacedonkey I thought he was very interesting
poor Jackie though

yes agree he is very interesting. even I was interested (am classical musician who gets terribly bored actually going to concerts or listening/reading about music )

I hate that people still find classical music elitist. I know exactly why that is, but I do my best in all the things I do to make it less so....long way to go though. Irritates me that many think the way to go is crappy crossover Mylene Klass/Il Divo bobbins though - v. patronizing I think

I can't bear those crossover acts >

some are OK but on the whole they're pants

Some perfectly good musicians end up releasing crossover material as record companies/PR think that's the only way to make any money. It's such a shame. The general public can cope with classical music without having it dumbed down IMO.
There are ways and means of making classical music appear less elitist, but sticking a load of slap and posing in a wet t-shirt isn't particularly constrictive!

couldn't agree more georginarf

bah my typing

sticking a load of slap ON and should read 'constructive' not 'constrictive'. A wet t-short prob is quite constrictive....

Oh god yes, I particularly hate that Katherine Jenkins woman with the big blonde hair, does my head in.

I can't bear the likes of G4 and that bleedin Russell Watson

yes

laughed to myself when 'he' played a note on the piano

expected everyone to start clapping reverently

is it just me that thinks he's a brilliant genius then?

for Georginarf
the trouble is, now my inlaws (esp the elderly ones) know that I like classical music, I get the likes of flipping Katherine Jenkins and Il Divo or Classic FM Slaughters the Classics in Cold Blood and Serves up the Bleeding Chunks For Your Relaxation in a Lovely Bubbly Bath Volume 2.
Spare me. Really.