Debate: Barenboim on Desert Island Discs

Actually this is a vital point, not only to the particular broadcast of DID but also of broadcasting in general. And it relates to a point Barenboim made which I thought was thought-provoking but could have gone further. It was what he said about music 'coming out of silence'. He demonstrated it rather well. But music should also go back into silence. We know that from concerts where the audience is stilled, and hardly dares to clap. That's one of the reasons why the increasing sanctioning of Radio 'clips' of music is so bad. In my view and perhaps yours too.

Dick LS

Wireless! You'll be saying you wear tank tops next!!!!
As for DID, like the acronym, I find Sue Lawley totally lacking in finesse. She has no ability to really empathise with her interviewee. Some of her questions to DB made me cringe, and her forced laugh shows her lack of spontaneity, and inablity to engage with his humour. For eg. her comments about his age, and whether this effected his playing because his fingers might be arthritic. Terrible. Terrible. What kind of inquiry is this?
As others have said, we should have been treated to an exposition about his musical development and I for one, would have been interested in why he chose the particular pieces he did, and what meaning they had for him, both personally and musically.
When push comes to shove, SL just doesn't cut the mustard...not ever.[sorry about the mixed metaphors]

Dick, I think DID is the kind of radio programmes where the listener should hear a guest in their intellectual underwear – but they never do. It’s become the broadcasting equivalent of an A-line skirt (or V-neck pullover). Chris Evans is the only guest who’s really caught my attention over recent months. His honesty and openness, concerning his finances was most refreshing. Also, it isn’t often that one hears a guest speaking about their profound love of listening to the radio and Mr. Evans accomplished this in a most powerful manner. How many recent interviews or record choices stand out in your memory?

It’s clear from the observation that Radio 4 chose to scrap the DID message board (without warning) on April 15th 2003 that the station doesn’t have any particular love or affinity for the programme. Most of the great radio broadcasters (Mary Goldring, John Peel, Brian Redhead, William Hardcastle, Derek Jewel…continued P64) are either retired or, sadly, no longer with us. Consequently, endless speculation about a ‘replacement’ is a waste of time. I can guarantee that the listening figures won’t suddenly rise when the new presenter is appointed. I’d choose to scrap the programme and redirect R4 listeners to Private Passions which is usually interesting.

The format of the programme is owned by Mr. Plomley’s estate (I assume this means his widow) and there appears to be some difficulty in coming to an agreement with the BBC in respect of the broadcasting rights. The R4 MB host has posted quite a few times about this matter over the last four years, informing contributors that negotiations are still going on, but they never seem to reach any agreement.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank you for all your efforts and energy expended in generating discussions on this MB? I’ve certainly appreciated it.

Kind regards,

Lawrence