Classical music , outside of the Proms, is hardly ever represented on British television these days. I can recall the great classical music television of my youth with the wonderfully informal and communicative Andre Previn conducting the LSO, the documentaries of Christopher Nupen and the operas produced by Brain Large.
So the screening of John Birdcut's film "Elgar: The Man Behind the mask" was a rare treat. I had long realised that the spin which gave the impression that Elgar was an Edwardian Gentleman was far from reality. He was the son of a shop keeper, albeit a music shop keeper, and self taught. He worked in the local asylum as a jobbing musician and composer. His Harmony Music for wind quintet, played by Elgar (he took the bassoon part) and his friends to patients reveals much about the music to come. Singers who have performed his part songs also appreciate what a wide ranging and wild composer he could be. So it was refreshing to have one's view of the composer upheld with even more evidence of the artistic and insecure temperament that was hidden behind the moustache.
Mr Birdcut's film was well researched, he interviewed the best musicians to explain Elgar (Edward Gardner, Mark Elder, Colin Davis, Natalia Luis-Bassa), and the performances were excellent, even though only brief excepts for the most part.
However at the end I wondered if the additional cost in providing visual images added anything to the story. In a climate where the BBC has to face a 16% cut I doubt this sort of film will ever appear on our screens again. Sad but I expect true, so expect classical music to retreat to the confines of Radio Three.
So the screening of John Birdcut's film "Elgar: The Man Behind the mask" was a rare treat. I had long realised that the spin which gave the impression that Elgar was an Edwardian Gentleman was far from reality. He was the son of a shop keeper, albeit a music shop keeper, and self taught. He worked in the local asylum as a jobbing musician and composer. His Harmony Music for wind quintet, played by Elgar (he took the bassoon part) and his friends to patients reveals much about the music to come. Singers who have performed his part songs also appreciate what a wide ranging and wild composer he could be. So it was refreshing to have one's view of the composer upheld with even more evidence of the artistic and insecure temperament that was hidden behind the moustache.
Mr Birdcut's film was well researched, he interviewed the best musicians to explain Elgar (Edward Gardner, Mark Elder, Colin Davis, Natalia Luis-Bassa), and the performances were excellent, even though only brief excepts for the most part.
However at the end I wondered if the additional cost in providing visual images added anything to the story. In a climate where the BBC has to face a 16% cut I doubt this sort of film will ever appear on our screens again. Sad but I expect true, so expect classical music to retreat to the confines of Radio Three.
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