]La Scena Musicale
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Letter to the Editor: Classical Radio
Dear Mr. Wah Keung Chan,
Several years ago I wrote two articles that were published in your
publication. Since then, I've witnessed the demise of classical music
on both the CBC's TV and Radio Networks.
There is now precious little in the way of classical and jazz
programming
on the TV airwaves.
Why aren't there any live or recorded remotes from such events as the
Montréal Jazz Festival and the Festival du Lanaudiere?
I have read your articles concerning the CBC Radio Two in the May and
June
issues of your publication. I recall stating in one of my articles that in
1992, Ms. Margaret Lyons, then a manager of CBC Radio stated: "There
is too much classical music on CBC Radio!" Her statement is rapidly
becoming true, much to the chagrin of classical music lovers across
this country.
I confess that I am becoming annoyed at what is being
executed by CBC Radio management. As a result I am tuning increasingly
to WNED-FM at 94.5 MHX in Buffalo, New York, as well as the various
classical and jazz channels on my XM satellite radio tuner.
Additionally, I have re-discovered vinyl records. This January I
started employment with a new CD re-issue company in Toronto, called
Heritage Choice Records, founded by Marc Berstein. The company's
mandate is to re-issue cantoral, opera and classical 78 RPM recordings
onto CDs, for sale to any interested parties.
While in Montréal for the Festival du Son et Image in April, I visited
Le Colisée du Livre on rue Ste. Catherine E. Their second floor is a
treasure trove of old LPs. In Kingston, there is a record shop called
Brian's Record Option at 382 Princess Street. They have more classical
and soundtrack records than I've seen in a long time. I noticed that
vinyl records and vacuum tube amplifiers are making a big comeback in
Montreal. I counted no less than seven high-end audio retailers.
Toronto electronics retailers seem more oriented to mass-market audio
and home theatre installations. I like the warmer sound of vinyl and
vacuum tubes, since they evoke memories of my childhood in Montréal.
During that era, I started my serious listening habits with classical
music. Even though I was bitten by the rock bug for a few years, I'm
now returning to classical, jazz and blues music as much of the
current popular roster has no interesting material (at least, not to
me). Have you ever tried `returning' to vinyl? If so, beware. It can
become addictive.
Also, while in Montréal for this year's Jazz Festival, I noted that
Radio Couleur-Jazz had made tremendous improvement in its transmitter
coverage. I can now receive a clear signal in Point Claire, about 15
miles from the transmitter on Mount Royal.
I am also pleased the CJPX's sister station CJSQ-FM is on the air in
Quebec City at 92.7. In Burlington, WVPR-FM 107.9 is now all news and talk
programming from NPR and the BBC. This leaves Montrealers with no
over-the-air
access to NPR classical programming. NPR's program, Music Through the
Night,
is always a welcome relief to nighttime listeners. Toronto readers can
receive this program over WNED-FM 94.5 in Buffalo, New York. I would
recommend that your readers investigate the XM Satellite Radio
Service, as it really fills a void left by the demise of classical and
jazz programming in CBC's Radio Two and Espace Musique.
I still look forward to each new edition of your publication. It is
still an im****tant link in coverage of jazz and classical music events
in Québec and Canada.
Dwight W. Pole
Toronto, Ontario
--------------------
Linkname: La Scena Musicale: Letter to the Editor: Classical Radio
URL: http://www.scena.org/blog/2008/07/letter-to-editor_9127.html
|
