"Maestro"(BBC TV)

[Dundonnell]

BBC2 has just finished showing the first part of a new series in which eight celebrities have been given the opportunity to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra. The celebrities included Jane Asher(the actress), David Soul(the American actor), Alex James(ex- Blur bassist), Goldie(the DJ) and Peter Snow(British TV political pundit).

The eight were first required to conduct one of four pieces(Blue Danube, March of the Toreadors, Hall of the Mountain King and Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet extract) before undergoing five days of training. They then had to conduct their piece again before the first was eliminated. The judges include Sir Roger Norrington and Simone Young.

Normally I hate these kind of programmes but I have to admit that I thought this first episode was great fun Also proves just how difficult conducting actually is(for those of us who practise in our sitting rooms!)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/musictv/maestro/

Goldie's performance is really quite amazing!

[M forever]

"We apologise that this content is not available to users outside the UK"

[mahler10th]

I watched this too.  Aside from its poorly produced X Factor type elimination with liminaries such as Norringotn on the panel, it is great indeed.  Makes you realise what tempo is and how necessary it is to keep - and just how the Orchestra really do rely on the baton waver.

[Mark]

Captured it on the PVR. Will probably give it a viewing tonight.

[MDL]

It was a bit stretched out at 90 minutes, but still great fun. My fave bits: Sue Perkins telling the orchestra that she was so nervous, she was worried it might be the "Brown Danube", and Peter Snow maintaining his dignity and humour despite his outlandish mangling of the Prokofiev.

[Dundonnell]

"We apologise that this content is not available to users outside the UK"

That is a pity

It was a bit stretched out at 90 minutes, but still great fun. My fave bits: Sue Perkins telling the orchestra that she was so nervous, she was worried it might be the "Brown Danube", and Peter Snow maintaining his dignity and humour despite his outlandish mangling of the Prokofiev.

Yes..poor Peter Snow I did feel sorry for him He obviously loves music but just couldn't handle the conducting part
I had to avert my eyes from the TV when the Prokofiev went so hopelessly wrong!

Jane Asher has style though....as a conductor, I mean

[Hector]

Fascinating.

I did not know about the musical backgrounds of David Soul and Jane Asher.

It is entirely possible that I have a number of recordings of Jane Asher's mother!

The best was left until last, Goldie, but Jane Asher looks as if she has the determination to be a winner and with two conductors helping her.

What a stunner she is still.

Come on Jane!!!

[Ten thumbs]

Interestingly, my wife was spot on when it came to assessing the first round performances and she is not particularly into the technical side of music. She likes what she likes.

[Mark]

Thoroughly enjoyed the first instalment of this new series. Yes, okay, it's classical music 'lite'. But it beats the pants off of the appalling mess the BBC made of this year's Young Musician of the Year broadcasts. And let's face it, watching the wiggling hips of Katie Derham and flashing blue eyes of Jane Asher hardly hurts. I even found a new respect for Sue Perkins - a comediene I've always greatly admired for her timing and wit, and someone who, I now find out, is also very intelligent, articulate and charming. Not to mention a dab hand at conducting.

Biggest surprise was Goldie emerging as a clear winner in the first round. The Drum 'n' Bass God who can't read music, but is (so far) apparently a 'natural'. Be interesting to see how he shapes up later in the competition. Particularly as his conducting style is somewhat akin to my own at home in front of the hifi.