Here we are in Cardiff, attending the famous “Cardiff Singer of the World” festival. This has become something of a regular commitment for us, and we always look forward to it. This year, however, the first concert has left us with an element of anxiety. The standard of performance is up to the usual level. I do have my worries, however, about the formet in which things are oresented.
In the past the competition has been televised, but the broadcasting requirements have been kept relatively discrete. On this occasion, however, I am beginning to get the feeling that it has been transformed into a series of TV.programmes in which essential elements of the concert experience are pushed to the margin. My anxiety was triggered wast night when the audience were invited to continue their applause so that the TV crew could get some goog shots of it. are we now only extras in a TV show? I hope not.
It reminds me rather of the situation in which the identity of the gallery takes precedence over the art it displays.