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thompson1780
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« on: 23:34:18, 12-08-2008 » |
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Very funny. Full marks to the BBCCO, Judges, and coaches.
Predictions, anyone?
Tommo
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Made by Thompson & son, at the Violin & c. the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard, LONDON
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #1 on: 00:04:14, 13-08-2008 » |
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A proper orchestra consists of one conductor and about 120 resistors. They are all attached loosely to some kind of board. Occasionally they might be joined by a short fuse.
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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Peter Grimes
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« Reply #2 on: 10:50:07, 13-08-2008 » |
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Worth watching for Norrington's half-baked put downs.
Otherwise, utterly dumb.
"How do I make you go faster?"
"Wave your arms about."
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"On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog."
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perfect wagnerite
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« Reply #3 on: 11:10:46, 13-08-2008 » |
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Predictions, anyone?
Jane Asher will obviously win. 1) She shows a certain basic level of competence and is probably teachable. 2) Ultimately the band has the final say on who goes out. There is a large concentration of middle-aged men in the band; such people are simple souls at heart and Ms Asher, being attractive in a slightly mumsy sort of way and known inter alia for baking cakes, ticks the boxes that matter most to them. The other likely candidate must be Goldie, who was portrayed (and who knows what is lost/gained in the editing) as the outsider who cannot read music who is giving it a go - and was praised to the skies by Norrington. He therefore ticks the boxes of Roger Wright and the BBC suits who want to show that classical music is, like, inclusive, man. (In the light of postings elsewhere on the boards it was interesting to see that in his day job mixing drum and bass he appeared to have developed his own notation). As to the programme itself - nowhere near as bad as it could have been, and all good clean fun. |
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At every one of these [classical] concerts in England you will find rows of weary people who are there, not because they really like classical music, but because they think they ought to like it. (Shaw, Don Juan in Hell)
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Morticia
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« Reply #4 on: 19:08:09, 13-08-2008 » |
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Just watched it on iPlayer. It was nowhere near as carp as I thought it was going to be, although I must admit I found myself squirming in my seat and feeling rather sorry for poor old Peter Snow. Was it his Prokoviev that ended by sounding as though the orchestra had suddenly burst into a sprint, tripped and fallen on top of eachother?
If Jane Asher doesn't win, I suspect there will be people mysteriously impaled on 'cello spikes. She is determined to win! Scary!
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rauschwerk
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« Reply #5 on: 09:09:25, 14-08-2008 » |
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If Jane Asher doesn't win, I suspect there will be people mysteriously impaled on 'cello spikes. She is determined to win! Scary!
And would you have expressed yourself thus about a competitive man? |
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Milly Jones
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« Reply #6 on: 12:09:01, 14-08-2008 » |
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That's an interesting point. From my own point of view, competitive men don't come across as scary because that sort of drive has always seemed very masculine to me. If a woman exhibits the same level of competitiveness, for some reason it doesn't sit well with me. It looks wrong somehow. This is probably due to years of social conditioning I would agree, but it is "scary" nevertheless. I don't know if that's what Mort meant but it's definitely my take on the subject.
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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thompson1780
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« Reply #7 on: 12:21:14, 14-08-2008 » |
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I thought Jane Asher looked scary, but I didn't take that as her being so determined. She just seemed to be totally concentrating on what she had learnt, and her face didn't look very relaxed.
I'm not sure she'll win. It all looks too practiced and not spontaneous enough - very 'one way' (her to band, and not responding to what the band do. perhaps that's good? I don't know.)
On the other hand, Goldie is just too spontaneous - and hooked on beats. I don't know what will happen if he gets something which is lacking in rhythm and very fluid.
My money is on Sue Perkins. Of course she could just blow up in silliness from nerves.
Tommo
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Made by Thompson & son, at the Violin & c. the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard, LONDON
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Mary Chambers
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« Reply #8 on: 14:40:51, 14-08-2008 » |
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Now I've managed to watch the whole thing, I agree it's not nearly as bad as one might have expected - not like Last Choir Standing, for instance, which I soon stopped watching. It's ridiculous to imply that someone who can't read music could ever be a conductor, though. They might do a few pieces by ear, but even then it would presumably be based on someone else's interpretation. Why don't people bother to learn to read music? It's not terribly difficult.
Sue Perkins actually knows something about music, and is intelligent. Jane Asher is scarily competent at everything. In the end, I should think, the one who makes the best "story" will win, rather than the one who is actually the best. It's entertainment and publicity rather than anything serious, after all.
I have to admit my take on pushy, competitive women (at least, the ones who show it) is a bit like Milly's. I'm rather ashamed that I find these qualities more acceptable in males, but if I'm honest I do - though I don't much like them in anyone. I suspect it's partly because I was ruthlessly competitive myself when young, about exams and things, and I've gone completely the other way now. I'm disliking something I disliked in myself.
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Morticia
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« Reply #9 on: 14:54:14, 14-08-2008 » |
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If Jane Asher doesn't win, I suspect there will be people mysteriously impaled on 'cello spikes. She is determined to win! Scary!
And would you have expressed yourself thus about a competitive man? Perhaps I should have used the word 'formidable' which, of course, could equally apply to a competitive or determined male. I certainly don't think that being competitive sits wrongly with women, nor that it is automatically to be expected from men. In fact,tusk brandishing in a minor key is really rather attractive in males ... But that's another story. Meanwhile, on with the competition! |
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Antheil
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« Reply #10 on: 17:38:29, 14-08-2008 » |
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That's an interesting point. From my own point of view, competitive men don't come across as scary because that sort of drive has always seemed very masculine to me. If a woman exhibits the same level of competitiveness, for some reason it doesn't sit well with me.
Is Jane Asher a Lesbian then?  No, seriously, I thought it was fun. I would have picked Jane A or Goldie from the first episode to succeed. Shame Peter Snow got voted off as he provided much comedy. Alex James' boyishly untamed hair and askew collars certainly got a vote. David Soul's hair also had a life of his own. It did attract 1.8m viewers which was more than News at Ten, and not knowing anything about the art of conducting I did learn a lot. |
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #11 on: 21:23:59, 14-08-2008 » |
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I watched in on iPlayer this afternoon and found it to be much more enjoyable than I had expected. After the debacle of Young Musican of the Year and the 'voting out' process involved in 'reality shows' I had feared the worst, but this was entertaining and spent enough time on following the celebrities learning from their mentors. Poor old Peter Snow really had no sense of rhythm at all!
I agree that Jane Asher has a frightening sense of determination, but I don't think she'll win. Goldie's conducting of the same piece led to a much more exciting performance of In the Hall of the Mountain King. JA did little more than beat time. Katie Derhem actually seemed to have some idea of what to do.
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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strinasacchi
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« Reply #12 on: 21:31:33, 14-08-2008 » |
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<sigh>
I'm a woman working in a very competitive field. Because of various twists and turns in my life and career, I've had to be very determined to get where I am. I want to do the best I possibly can. I'm more competitive with myself - and harder on myself - than I am with anyone else.
I deeply suspect that if I was male I'd be further along in my career than I am. I've been told by a couple different leaders of groups (both male and female) that some of my colleagues perceive me as arrogant and difficult, and that I ought to blend in better, not be so "strong," keep my head down, keep my opinions to myself. Meanwhile I see men far more stubborn or outspoken than I not experiencing the same setbacks.
It's very upsetting. I know I have a lot to offer. I know that some (other) of my colleagues appreciate that I have a lot to offer. But as long as people still have this attitude that a woman's role is to smile, be conciliatory and never put herself forward I'm going to struggle.
The alternative is to be devious and manipulative - another negative female stereotype, and not something I've ever been good at.
<sigh>
<back on topic>
I surprised myself by enjoying "Maestro" a lot more than I expected. I liked seeing that they all were being made to work quite hard.
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Antheil
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« Reply #13 on: 21:52:45, 14-08-2008 » |
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<sigh>
It's very upsetting. I know I have a lot to offer. I know that some (other) of my colleagues appreciate that I have a lot to offer. But as long as people still have this attitude that a woman's role is to smile, be conciliatory and never put herself forward I'm going to struggle.
The alternative is to be devious and manipulative - another negative female stereotype, and not something I've ever been good at.
<sigh>
<back on topic>
I surprised myself by enjoying "Maestro" a lot more than I expected. I liked seeing that they all were being made to work quite hard.
No, don't be devious and manipulative, don your Doc Martens Sorry, what else I was to say got mangled |
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« Last Edit: 22:01:52, 14-08-2008 by Antheil »
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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strinasacchi
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« Reply #14 on: 22:09:39, 14-08-2008 » |
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No worries, no devious manipulation coming from this quarter. As I said, I'm not very good at it - and being a competitive type I'd rather do things in a way I'm good at - even if it is harder!
I seem to have a talent for taking the more difficult path at every option. Ugh.
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