By now I listened to a few times to afternoon performances on radio 3 to start to have some opinion about it. They discuss it on the other forum, but I wanted to ask people here how do people like it.

It is very strange long slot from 13  to 17 hour every day. The programmes consists of cut and paste performances from different recitals by different artists.
For example today 5 of April programme consisted of approximately half a recital by Dutch mezzo-soprano Christianne Stottijn. The other half was broadcast yesterday. This is much weaker programme then what they used to have at this time before (from Wigmore Hall).
I don't want to critisize performers. I thought that this singer was excellent, but the pasting job is appauling. I understand that I have to be greatful for this radio and I am. I am trying to adopt. While living in America (forgive me Kitty) I got used to commercials on TV and used them to go to fetch something from the fridge or do something. Unfortunate consiquences of that were: I lost ability to concentrate for long. When we came back to Europe I found I needed commercials and was tired to watch BBC with no commercials.

There are snippets of other performances Psophos String Quartet or different BBC artist). Thankfully they are playing pieces in full and in this way it is not snippets of different pieces. But it is nevertheless is dambing down.

I only catch on now with what people meant when they talked about death of live performance.
I am slow to catch up again.

Did anybody hear the mezzo Stottjin? What about Ibragimova?
I thought she and the quartet (April 3rd) were really good.

Do people turn away from radio 3 or are you still listening?

May be you are right, Martin. May be it is a question of getting used to. I used to listen to Wigmore Hall concerts at that time. I like lunch time recitals. In this format you can listen to selected live recorded items. I think there are many ways to look at that. It is not all completely bad. I am fully prepared to get used to it.
My question is: Why do they put various live performances together?
May be it is minor criticism. I am not so spoil to not get used to it.

I don't have any problem with the actual range of music we are getting but I think what I dislike about the new format and presentation is the implication that what is on offer is 'some classical music' if you see what I mean. It's a bit like those firms that sell leather bound books by the yard as part of an internal decorating service. If you want to have 'some classical music' on, here it is.

The fact that neither the Radio Times, nor the on-line schedules (unless I am missing something), tells you when particular pieces are going to be on just adds to that impression. I suppose if I really wanted to I could look up the performance lengths of all the works in the programme schedule, tot them up, add a bit for continuity and injury time, and deduce when what I want to hear might be on......

......but life is too short for all that when there are bloons to be shot at by monkeys.

I agree with Martin.I think the new 'Afternoon on 3 'has been the most successful,and least controversial, of the new slots.

I hope the British Symphonies will continue.I want to hear Arnold Cooke's five. It must be nearly thirty years since one of them was broadcast and I think the superb Fourth  (premiered at the Proms around 1976) has never been aired since.

Yes, timings would be helpful and yet it's interesting that timings are given for Through the Night. How many people out there think: "Oh, I must remember to tune in at 3.41am to hear that particular piece."

I did send an elegantly worded bit of 'feedback' about the lack of timings to the contact address on the 'Afternoon on 3' Home Page with a view to posting their response here but have just had it bounced back with a 'Not deliverable' message . I suppose I could try snail, or possibly slug, mail.

I did go for snail mail in the end and have now had this response:

"I was delighted to read of your interest in the programme however understand you feel an indication should be made in guides to let listeners know when specific items during the programme should be broadcast.

Nevertheless, please be assured I have registered your comments regarding this issue and have made them available to the 'Afternoon on 3' production team, scheduling team and the senior BBC management. Feedback of this nature helps us when making decisions about future BBC programmes and your comment will play a part in this process."


 

Au contraire, Tommo, I feel an empowered, cared for and interacted with listener .

And apparently it's not allowed, even by the Pope