Tuesday, September 13, 2011

French snobs? Lovers of kitsch?

Not for the faint of heart. France Musique, the public classical music station, recently rebroadcast its "Nuit du Kitsch": a six hour festival of music of dubious taste. You can listen here, just scroll down past the program listings for each part and click where indicated.

Ranges from Mahler to Tchaikovski to James Horner and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (and of course, Dick van Dyke singing "Step in Time".)

Stylish, and yet full of insider knowledge.....

6 comments:

David Chute said...

What an asshole. I'd ask whether you agree with him but I'm not sure I want to know.

Tulkinghorn said...

I'm trying to picture the French classical music disk jockey whose taste and opinions you would embrace...

Just thought I'd lift the cover from a world that you wouldn't have thought possible.

I'm listening to the radio right now at work. The Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo (the 'rich Corinthian leather' concerto. Also recorded by Miles Davis on "Sketches of Spain") I had to check to see whether I was listening to KUSC or the French kitsch festival.

Analysis you don't forget....

David Chute said...

You're right. I don't.

David Chute said...

Basically I find guys like this hateful rather than cute or charming. He's essentially a bully. That you are reduced to fits of helpless giggles by this sort of thing I find distrurbing. Speaking as one ex-picked on geek to another, it's the equivilent of going over to the enemy.

Tulkinghorn said...

I haven't been picked on for fifty years, and have long since gotten over it.

My enjoyment of these matters is a bit more nuanced than helpless giggles. In fact, it's not about the artist or the piece at all but about enjoying critical perspectives different from mine.

A bit of cultural blasphemy is good for you, seems to me.

In any event, I think that Mahler's First needs no protection by me or anyone else from French DJs.

David Chute said...

Missing the point. The bullying is aimed at us -- at those of us so benighted as to enjoy any of these pieces.