Maestros

[blackcat77]

Did anyone watch this tonight? I did and really enjoyed it, I thought that Goldie did brilliantly! Am really looking forward to next weeks episode now.

[Rtaxron]

I think its drivel, and it seems the TV companies are running out of ideas for reality programmes.
Maybe the Celebs who take part are hard up for work.

Whatever will they come up with next, any suggestions?

[Unsureme]

Rtaxron,you are spot on!! How about a series to see who can wash dishes the quickest!!

[saxy_jag]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. I guess, Rtaxron, if you've never been in a position to appreciate a good conductor, then you probably would say that and I wouldn't blame you. I would imagine the main appeal is going to be to music enthusiasts, which is probably why it's on BBC2. I currently play in two bands and have been conducted over the past ten years or so by more conductors than I care to mention - good and bad. Yes, we take the p155 out of them a lot of the time, but the level of skill needed to do it well is immense and it can be a nightmare trying to work with a bad one. I'm certainly going to be watching the rest of it, and I'm not one for watching reality shows in general, but this caught my attention.

Blackcat, Goldie is good, but my money's on Bradley Walsh or Sue Perkins. Goldie, to my mind, was enjoying the music a little too much - what I call the 'Brassed Off' school of conducting (watch the film to see some good examples of how not to conduct). A good conductor must be a communicator as well as a good musician and performer. You truly do have to multi-task. There was a lot of animated communication from Bradley and Sue and I would have felt comfortable working with either of them. Not sure whether Goldie would have been much help during the tricky bits.

And Peter Snow - oh dear! What was it the judge said, never knew there were so many ways of counting four.

[blackcat77]

Thanks saxy-jag, I think that it will be a very interesting series to follow although I must admit that I did not think that Peter Snow would last very long! I've never played in an orchestra but I love many different types of music and was surprised that I enjoyed the programme so much.
Rtaxron and Unsureme, life would be very boring if we all liked the same things, so am interested to read your remarks. At any rate it is a few notches up from Big Brother!

[dundurn]

I too really enjoyed the program. Natalia Luis-Bassa who is coaching David Soul is a friend of my daughter and although they're keeping their hands pretty close to their chests (which is a really bad way to conduct an orchestra!) I can say that the stars are taking this really seriously. They're all madly competitive and however lightly they may have entered the competition, none of them want to be chucked out early.

[Ric.ror]

I watched Daniel Barenbhoim (I know thats not how to spell it) last night and he hardly moved his hands at all. Makes the celebs attempts all the more interesting to me

[saxy_jag]

Ric.ror, I used to play for a guy like that. He'd set the tempo and then just let us go, and there would be nothing but a few flicks of his hands. Made sure we really did watch him closely, and he did a lot by eye contact. At one point in the programme he'd even walk off and find an audience member (usually a kiddy) to come and have a go conducting.

They all have different styles and that's why it's a very worthwhile experience, as a player, to work with as many as you can. The real work of the conductor is what you don't see, ie. the rehearsals. I really hope 'Maestros' gives us a look at that.