The "New Look" Gramophone

I have to laugh when I see complints like this. Niccola Bennedetti is undoubtedly easy on the eye. Terrible, terrible; naughty old Gramophone.

It's hardly cross-over is it ;)

I haven't bought Gramophone since last year because I haven't been given a reason to do so, the declining number of reviews is the main reason, and also the lack of listing of comparative recordings. The Editor said recently they have shortened these lists to make space for more reviews pages. Judging by what contributors are saying here this is not the case. Here's my suggestion for what it's worth, bring back the lists of comparative recordings, increase the number of reviews pages, and delete at least 50% of the nonsense between the contents page and the reviews section. I also find this growing obsession with youth and physical attractiveness worrying. Although youthful vigour and confidence play a part in great musicians, equally wisdom and experience are important, if not more so, and I couldn't care less if the man or woman in question had the sex appeal of a smoked cod when choosing to buy a disc. I have always disliked LPs and CDs with photos of the artists on the cover. We would do well to remember Artur Schnabel when he said 'this music is better than it can be played'. The absurdity of modern marketing was exemplified to me when I found out they airbrushed out a cigarette in a photo of Maurizio Pollini, yes of course that's why we buy his discs because he doesn't smoke. Finally to echo the last contributor, anything about LPs would be very much appreciated.

LOL

Having read Mr. Everards contribution I do wonder why some people criticise Gramophone, and what they really want to say. When I criticise Gramophone I don't do it from a position of malice, I do it as someone who admires greatly the legacy of the magazine, and who will always be grateful for what it has given me. It's for this reason that with sadness I see changes happening that I suppose are inevitable for its survival in the current marketplace. If my criticisms seem to come from a more vindictive standpoint I apologise, and it's for this reason that I don't understand or like people writing just to have a go. If you really don't like the magazine or have nothing positive to say, why write at all? Why not just forget about the magazine?

For example, I don't understand what The Proms has got to do with a magazine about recorded music, but to say that this season is a load of rubbish, as well as being insulting is a sweeping generalisation that can't possibly be true. Whatever The Proms is it is eclectic, and there is always something for everyone. Generalisations will never win an intelligent argument, Wagner's generalisations prove that he was an incredibly idiotic man. Also if you are going to talk about people at least pay them the courtesy of getting their names correct. Every musician no matter where they are from is an individual that brings their personal emotions and experiences to a performance of a work. To suggest that this is not the case because they are young and Chinese is unfounded and worse simply racist.

I must have missed this story! Can you elaborate please?

Dear noorjivraj 

I strongly suspect you would get a far more receptive and constructive response from people - other forum users and Gramophone staff alike - if the tone of your comments were less openly contemptuous and discourteous.

Whilst it is true that the tone of a comment has no actual effect on its truth, it will inevitably have an effect on the way in which people perceive the motives of the person making that comment, and on people's willingness to either engage with them, or to read anything further from them.

Make your points passionately, by all means - but if you're mocking and derisive you are unlikely to make them persuasively.

Just a thought.

The reasons I hear, and this comes from the people who are snapping up this stuff from ebay and elsewhere, is that it started with djs using techniques like "scratching" and has now become a fad amongst the younger generation, paradoxically the same generation that loves MP3. I've had this discussion at length with my son and his friends. With them, even though I still play vinyl and support it as you'll see from my posts elsewhere, I always take the devil's advocate stance for cd. They've never lived through the lp era, have absolutely no experience of the disadvantages of the medium and its technology and it takes no time to smoke out the real reasons they support it: those dj guys with their 3 turntables and their 'scratching' techniques are the coolest things on two legs.

Give it a few years and all those turntables will be back on ebay at 1/10th the price they were bought.