Hi just needed somewhere to vent my spleen about trainline!!

They do play Sibelius’s symphonies also; a movement from one of them was aired earlier this week. I daresay that when he gets his slot on the ‘Full Works’ this month he will have one or two symphonies played. But I think it is right that CFM concentrates on the more popular works: these pieces of music are popular for a good reason, i.e. they are the ‘masterpieces’ and are more likely than others to attract new listeners. Once a listener is hooked, then he or she will probably explore further on their own. I did.

I agree with Sylvia that CFM does play a lot of music by people relatively unknown. For example, back in the early days when I first started listening all I knew about were the big names, and that was all I wanted to hear. But I am eternally grateful that CFM introduced me to Hummel, whom I now love, to the work of John Field and John Garth, and to the lesser-known pieces by composers like Bizet (I found out that he did write something other than Carmen) and they even persuaded me to like Shostakovich and Borodin!

Admittedly I think they play far too many film scores, and it is rare indeed – as Philip points out – to get a piece of music of any length (outside the ‘Full Works’). Many of my favourites are too long for frequent playing, e.g. the first movement of Beethoven’s fifth piano concerto, the first of his violin concerto, the Choral Fantasy, the first of Tchaikovsky’s piano concerto no 1. Mozart gets played so often not only because he consistently gets voted the listeners’ favourite, but because the segments of his work tend to be shorter. (And what gems they are!)

As for the adverts – well! Perhaps they would not irritate so much if there was more of a variety of them. And I do wish they wouldn’t plug ‘Smooth Classics at Six’ so much or indeed use their self-adverts to sandwich together two pieces of music. Not all of us have access to a DAB radio all the time: it is nice to be told the identity of what has just been played if you turn the radio on halfway through. Having to wait for that information while yet more music is played is unacceptable. (Especially if the next piece is something you don’t like!)

But the classics are back at midnight, and I’m still smiling.

Jan.

I now automatically recoil when I hear those ads advertising the benefits of advertising on radio, with that idiot interviewing perfectly sane heads of businesses and putting a pun into every question. Ughhh. Does anyone at all find those funny?

Phil

For the first time I can remember, I did feel sorry for Classic FM’s producers when there was a mini wave of support for the jazz programme on this website (or rather, dismay at its disappearance). It proves you can’t please all the people all the time. Although I respect the views of these correspondents, I must say that the removal of the jazz was more a problem for the jazz lovers to sort out rather than the classical music fans having to put up with jazz on a station that was supposed to have been set up to play classical music (in fact CFM used to plug themselves as the only 24 hour a day classical music station). Anyway the jazz lovers, as Jan points out, will now be much happier as they have their own station back (wonder what their listeners would say if they stuck a classical music programme in there!)

Nevertheless there’s still much to be done before Classic FM gets anywhere near the standard they attained some years ago. And I agree that Mark Griffiths coming back would be one step in the right direction.

Phil

So very well put. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that things continue to improve.

Nancy

I disagree with Lionel over his suggestion that perhaps the two hours after midnight is ‘the natural domain’ of jazz lovers; I don’t think people can be pigeon-holed so easily, and their listening habits predicted. Personally speaking, I listen to more classical music at night than at any other time. I work full-time and rarely get a chance during the day, and the weekends are always dominated by family stuff, so those precious dark hours are bliss for me when I can turn on the radio and hear classical music.

However, all is not lost for you jazzers. Tune in to Jazz FM and have your music all the time. It is in your best interest to make the most of the relaunch, and you can do yourselves a favour – and us too – by making Jazz FM a runaway success.

I’m with Josh in hoping that Ms Taylor will be ushered to the door and I do think that the movement of programmes at the weekend was unforgivable. I used to listen to David Mellor’s new CD show (he has strange staccato delivery, but I appreciated his very honest opinions) but now I can’t, and I do know that Natalie Wheen’s new time-slot has been deplored by many of her listeners.

Mark Griffiths now broadcasts on China Radio International. I don’t know about the details of his contract, but I rather suspect that if it were at all possible he would be back at Classic FM like a shot. Although I love Nick Bailey, I would prefer to see Mark back at his ‘normal’ time, and Nick given back the Evening Concert. The title ‘Full Works’ is pretty tacky, and John Brunning – though clear and concise – is rather too impersonal for my taste. Nick’s warmth (an attribute of Mark also) added immeasurably to the show.

Having said all that, we have had a step in the right direction with the reinstatement of classical music after midnight, so let us classical music lovers rejoice…..

Jan.