MAESTRO

[Lena & Harry Smith]

I watched this programme last night and must say I really enjoyed it.
This show is to find the best out of Eight celebrities to conduct an orchestra. Another show where there is a panel and each week a celebrity will be eliminated until the chosen winner will be expected to step up and conduct the orchestra during "The Last Night Of The Proms "
Clive Anderson with his dry wit and humour is the presenter, and each celebrity has their own mentor to give them advice.
Last night Peter Snow was the first to be eliminated leaving the remaining Seven.... Alex James ( Blur bassist ) Goldie (Drum n Bass artist. Katie Derham, David Soul, Jane Asher, Sue Perkins, Bradley Walsh .

[keithgood838]

Yes I enjoyed it, too, L&H, despite the familiar format.
It provides interesting insights into music in general
and conducting in particular. Sue Perkins and Bradley Walsh
seem to have the necessary aptitude. Clive Anderson's
witticisms steal the show.
Keith

[mariana44]

I taped it, but not watched it yet---I thought the format sounded familiar--has there been something similar on previously ??

I always loved watching Clive Anderson on "Whose Line is it anyway"--especially in the days of Josie Lawrence and Sandi Toksvig. It was just so funny.

[jon]

Yes, I enjoyed it. I thought Peter Snow was hilarious and it was entirely predictable that he got voted off. Interesting twist to have the orchestra decide on who should ultimately be "evicted".

Jane Asher and Sue Perkins look possible winners given that they already have a musical pedigree, though Goldie did well this time round (his mentor, Ivor Settorfield, I think his name is, was also on a Channel 5 programme last year when he taught residents of an Oxford council estate to perform as a choir at the Albert Hall).

And I didn't know that Peter Snow and Jon Snow, of Channel 4 News fame, were cousins. Kind of makes sense really, just wasn't aware of it before.

[ROBERT M.]

The One Show's Dan Snow is Peters son

[Lena & Harry Smith]

We didn't know that Peter and John Snow were cousins, although we did know that Dan was Peter Snow's son and there is a strong resemblance too.
We feel sure that Peter was expecting to go
Bradley Walsh is doing his best to show a serious side, but it's impossible for him to sustain it. but at least for a change we the viewers can laugh with them instead of at them and not to humiliate them like the other reality shows such as the XFactor.
It is a different idea and a sensible one too having the orchestra to vote.

[jon]

Yes, I knew Peter Snow and Dan Snow were father and son, not least because they've presented several series together on famous battles.

[keithgood838]

Watched Last Choir Standing for the first time tonight.
I must say I was impressed by the enthusiasm (and yes, the
quality) of the performers.
Only Men Aloud are, in my opinion, the choir blessed with
the finest vocal attributes. Pity they couldn't come up with
a more original name.
Keith

[ROBERT M.]

Did you put the above post in the wrong place Keith ?? Last Choir Standing has it's own "headline"

[keithgood838]

No Robert, I just wasn't aware
that the other headline
(Last Choir Standing) was there;
forgive this navigation lapse of mine.
Keith

[Marian]

I haven't seen Maestro yet, but am hoping to watch this evening.
Marian

[Lena & Harry Smith]

An enjoyable hour again this evening and it was no surprise to see who would be eliminated, this week David Soul was the unfortunate one to go and Bradley Walsh was saved. He's still putting humour into the programme, although as the show progresses this could become deadly serious and out of place we fear .
After their exhausting performance the panel then give their opinions and award points, and true to form there's the misery guts among them who can deflate that performance in one fell swoop.
It was Dominic Seldis tonight.

[Marian]

I did see it tonight and enjoyed the programme.
Marian.

[keithgood838]

Hi Lena & Harry.
It seems as though a hatchet man is de rigueur in each
of these reality shows, a symptom of the current tendency
towards cruelty television. Bradley Walsh, bless him, rose
above the miserly awarding of two points superbly. I fear,
however, his inability to read music will be his undoing.
I missed Goldie's performance in the first programme;
he is a natural and will contend with Sue Perkins for the
eventual accolade of Maestro. The show 'scores' by being
a novel way to present classical music. I hope Clive Anderson's
ad libs will continue to be ice-breakers.
Keith.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Hi Keith, yes, Clive Anderson is very sharp isn't he, anyway in view of the participants being amateurs, even though One or Two have musical pedigree, the panel bully this week could perhaps have take that into consideration.
We agree about Goldie, he surprised us and Sue Perkins deserved to get top marks.