Comments on: Anything We Can Do for Classical Music Radio in Boston?

By: Laurence Glavin

Laurence Glavin — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:24:19 +0000

I hope that when Mr. Voci came to work on Wednesday morning, he apprised the higher-ups at the (so-called) WGBH Educational Foundation of the fact that HUNDRED of people came out on a cold winter night to express themselves on these issues. A rock station in town (WFNX-FM 101.7)just canned its morning team, and changed its, um, “musical” mix. I wonder how many people would showe up at a meeting to express their displeasure with WFNX?

By: Robert Kluter

Robert Kluter — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:01:59 +0000

Here I am, commenting on the merger, the morning after the meeting which I was unable to attend! I have communicated with WGBH “management” concerning the loss of the early Sunday morning AGO program, the 8:00 AM or so weekly Bach Cantata and even the Cathedral of St. Paul program which was an over 30 year tradition on WCRB. RE the latter, I received the expected comment about promoting a particular religious demonination, even though the program has never been one attempting to “sell” Christianity.
But, to the programming on WGBH! I have found that the selections are far richer and varied than the old format (the Top 40). Now there is more vocal (individual and chorus) offerings, newer music (composers I had never experienced) interspersed with the Haydn and Beethoven, etc. There seem to be glitches: a work is started, interrupted by an announcement, rqther annoying. Laura Carlo is a bit lightweight in her descriptions of works to be played; the other announcers are fairly good; Richard Knisely is sorely missed. The Christmas season was a particularly rich exampole (to me) of diversity…it wasn’t all “Christmas music,” and I heard Christmas literature that I had never heard or nor sung before, perhaps because I sang with Boston Cecilia?

By: Robert Kluter

Robert Kluter — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:01:58 +0000

By: Cynthia Iris

Cynthia Iris — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:40:13 +0000

I couldn’t make the meeting last night but I fear it will be for naught; just an opportunity to vent. These days, people get together to express outrage but then it peters out without a focused follow-up. I wonder if we could begin and circulate a petition to be presented to WGBH?

‘GBH knows many of the loyal listening audience (classical, blues, folk, and jazz) are very unhappy with how this how really rolled out. I gave money to help “keep classical alive” but despite the catchy phrase, GBH killed one of the two streams (it’s own!) that actually kept classical on the air. *Everyone* is annoyed that you can’t get the station on a regular radio anymore because ‘CRB was sent to the hinterland when they went to 99.5, a fatal flaw which GBH couldn’t correct. The technical side is poor also, they can’t seem to compress the sound; instead it comes out too quiet then suddenly quite loudly, all in one song (frustrating for listeners who don’t want to be adjusting the volume in each piece). They aren’t fooling most of the listeners with their “happy talk” about how great the new programming is on WGBH radio. Many people no longer support of ‘GBH, myself included, which is a real shame that GBH has come to this situation. I predict WGBH will go the way of the Boston Globe: a once great, respected insitution in Boston that degenerated into mediocrity because it couldn’t figure out how to change with the times.

By: Susan Swan

Susan Swan — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:53:13 +0000

I just DID type a comment…. basically I wish I could be at the forum but prior engagement keeps me from attending. How could this new “manager” deprive us of Richard, and Doug and real, non-pablum classical music that most of us can’t even hear???? Susan

By: Susan Swan

Susan Swan — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:51:24 +0000

Prior commitments have kept me from attending tonight. But I am with you in spirit. What a travestry and what another ploy to keep greedy capitalists at work. Who hired this manager, by the way???? To get rid of witty Richard and before that Doug– to make a pansy of “classical music” ( now “light” as CRB was?? to not even receive it by most radios??? Just amazing it could happen in Boston. SUsan

By: Mikhaela Houston

Mikhaela Houston — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:32:41 +0000

A huge thank you to those who have planned this event. WGBH had been a huge influence on me for the past 39 years and 11 months (do the math – SINCE BIRTH!) Now that I cannot listen on the radio at work and at home due to the pathetic signal, and can’t listen online due to server issues on the WGBH end, I am terribly angry and distraught. What happened to the station I was brought up on? How can this be rectified?

I have not renewed my membership because of these issues. I honestly hope those who also have issues with the programming and signal will be listened to, and action will be taken for us.

By: Mark Lutton

Mark Lutton — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:24:29 +0000

WGBH can’t even run a radio station any more. On Saturday evening, January 2, at 8:00 they began broadcasting their own show “Says You”. At about 8:35 there was dead air for about 5 minutes, then transmission resumed with a completely different program.

By: Christie

Christie — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:40:57 +0000

Some of the things I liked about WGBH classical radio’s programming as opposed to WCRB’s:
-more vocal music
-more non-”pops” works
-more 20th/21st-century programming
-more programming of local musicians and composers (especially from the Frasier Performance Studio)

I hope that WGBH can bring these priorities to whatever classical music radio it operates.

By: T.B.

T.B. — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:35:27 +0000

I am not sure I can make the meeting. However, I would like to use this opportunity to comment on at least one thing that is disturbing me quite a bit: The new WCRB has mini segments presenting some accomplished and well known Boston area musicians explaining what classical music means to them or what music is in their opinion. All make interesting comments, but none of them are women! Do we really want to offer this biased representation of musicians and musicianship to the lay public? As a professional musician and an interdisciplinary writer, I know that there are just as many wonderful female musicians out there with just as much profound wisdom and passion to share about music, life, and a lot more.