Vivaldi's 4 Seasons Bbc4, What a fab show! Options

[Frankie82]

I just caught this programme presented by Charles Hazlewood this evening on BBC4, regarding Vivaldi and going through his life and watching various parts of the Four Seasons being performed(plus explanations of how parts of his life were related to the music). I was transfixed, it was a fantastic programme, wish it was on mainstream TV and not rubbish like the soaps (sorry any soaps fans).

[Cyrilla]

I agree!

I missed the first 20 minutes but, like you, Frankie, I was transfixed too.

MORE, PLEASE!!!

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[nannyjay]

I really wish there were more of this type of programme on the main channels as I only have the basic five stations. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[YetAnotherPianist]

Baroque nuts may wish to note that at 7pm next Saturday on BBC 4, a repeat of the programme recreating the premiere of Handle's Water Music is being shown (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

Returning to this week's programming - did anyone else find the recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons shown afterwards a little disappointing? It seemed almost dumbed down - lots of footage of things other than the players, added sound effects of birds and thunder as if the music didn't do a good enough job of that already, a young soloist for the 'wow she's so young' factor rather than an experienced Baroque player....

[sarah-flute]

lots of footage of things other than the players, added sound effects of birds and thunder

Oh how stupid (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[bohemian]

Did anyone else find the recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons shown afterwards a little disappointing? It seemed almost dumbed down - lots of footage of things other than the players, added sound effects of birds and thunder as if the music didn't do a good enough job of that already, a young soloist for the 'wow she's so young' factor rather than an experienced Baroque player....

I thought she was an extremely good player actually. She has a great reputation as a soloist, not just for her age. Her Bach Partitas and Sonatas are superb.
I didn't enjoy Winter so much, but the first 3 seasons were rather good. The dumbing down was pointless and very annoying.

[YetAnotherPianist]

I thought she was an extremely good player actually. She has a great reputation as a soloist, not just for her age. Her Bach Partitas and Sonatas are superb.

I wasn't bringing her ability into it - just the fact that they chose a young performer.

The choice of orchestra was a good one for Vivaldi - the ASMF have a strong reputation for playing music of that era. The logical choice, in my mind, would be to pair them with an experienced Baroque player; but, the cynic in me thinks they went for the ratings pull of a young soloist.

[bohemian]

If you'd shut yours eyes, would you have known whether it was a pretty 20-something year old girl, or a 60 year old ugly man?
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[Tess]

If you'd shut yours eyes, would you have known whether it was a pretty 20-something year old girl, or a 60 year old ugly man?
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[YetAnotherPianist]

If you'd shut yours eyes, would you have known whether it was a pretty 20-something year old girl, or a 60 year old ugly man?
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Once again you're missing my point. We appear to agree that the programme was dumbed down; and it is my opinion that the choice of a young soloist ties in with this. I'm not saying she's bad at playing the violin, just that the musical proletariat are more easily entertained by younger performers and this may well have influenced their choice of performer. For instance, several members of my family who have no interest in classical music watch programmes such as BBC Young Musician just because the performers are young: they would not, for example, watch the coverage of the Leeds Piano Competition.

[janexxx]

If you'd shut yours eyes, would you have known whether it was a pretty 20-something year old girl, or a 60 year old ugly man?
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Once again you're missing my point. We appear to agree that the programme was dumbed down; and it is my opinion that the choice of a young soloist ties in with this. I'm not saying she's bad at playing the violin, just that the musical proletariat are more easily entertained by younger performers and this may well have influenced their choice of performer. For instance, several members of my family who have no interest in classical music watch programmes such as BBC Young Musician just because the performers are young: they would not, for example, watch the coverage of the Leeds Piano Competition.

...or come to an adult learners concert?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I'm with YAP. Also they chose a female. I didn't see the programme but I am infering that she was eye candy (as well as being a good performer). Might have been purely co-incidental of course and we are assuming the choice had something to do with the overall dumbing down, and appeal to the masses.

Of course if it was not designed to appeal to the "musical proletariat" they would probably have chosen a different piece to 4 Seasons too. The marketing department done good!

PS who was she??

Edit: Bo's comment on her Bach set me thinking it was Julia (Fischer) so I googled it and yes it was.

She is a seriously good performer and well respected soloist whom I admire greatly. Yes she is eye-candy but in this case this was most likely co-incidental. Sorry I missed it!

[bohemian]

Might have been purely co-incidental of course

I think that's more likely. I believe there is a DVD of her playing the 4 seasons (exactly the same performance, minus dumbing down) and I xan't see that she would go to the trouble of making a DVD of it for that purpose. She won the flipping Menuhin competition, I don't think you can do that by just being pretty. Have a look at the Biography and Repertoire lists on www.juliafischer.com. Maybe even listen to some of her other stuff which isn't "dumbed down". Then if you still think she was just chosen for the reasons you stated, let me know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[janexxx]

Might have been purely co-incidental of course

I think that's more likely. I believe there is a DVD of her playing the 4 seasons (exactly the same performance, minus dumbing down) and I xan't see that she would go to the trouble of making a DVD of it for that purpose. She won the flipping Menuhin competition, I don't think you can do that by just being pretty. Have a look at the Biography and Repertoire lists on www.juliafischer.com. Maybe even listen to some of her other stuff which isn't "dumbed down". Then if you still think she was just chosen for the reasons you stated, let me know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Ahh I just googled it to find out who it was and edited my post before seeing this, Bo. I agree now, if it was Julia it was co-incidental.

[Cyrilla]

I agree totally about the 'dumbing down'. I have to say I didn't find the performance as spell-binding as the programme and I actually fell asleep during 'Autumn' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif).

I just love Charles Hazlewood's approach and both his radio and television 'pulling apart' of pieces. MORE PLEASE!!!

People will probably disagree with this but personally I preferred Clio Gould's playing in the Hazlewood programme. There was something about Julia Fischer that I found very irritating but can't quite put my finger on!

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[bohemian]

I actually fell asleep during 'Autumn' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif).
There was something about Julia Fischer that I found very irritating but can't quite put my finger on!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Yes, Autumn isn't the best season I have to say. Winter all the way!
Maybe it was her hair? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I don't know what was going on with it in Autumn but it was a bit scary (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)