lupinpooter

I do wish that the programme were 15 or so minutes longer to allow time for all of the judges to give feedback on each performance: it feels very rushed.

Jane Asher is my least favourite: I agree with the judges that she seems to have little real connection with the music. And her teeth are weird

lupinpooter

Interesting show last night, although, as usual, it was too rushed: all of our novice conductors struggled with their operatic arias. Jane Asher did a bloomin' good job of hers though, although her teeth are still weird. Perkins to win?

mrs_emma_peel

I agree, a hugely enjoyable but too short 4th episode … Rebecca and Alfie were absolutely superb.

Felt so sorry for Katie … there was virtually nothing to choose between the lovely Katie and the gorgeous Jane. Both ladies demonstrated such wonderful dramatic passion for their various operatic pieces.

But I thought Jane Asher’s sensitive, expressive and emotionally charged conducting of the very difficult: Puccini’s 'E lucevan le stelle' from Tosca, was her finest performance of the series.

Should be an absolutely fascinating 90 minute final where the three finalists conduct a concerto with soloists: violinist - Tasmin Little, cellist - Natalie Clein and pianist Nikolai Demidenko; secondly, they conduct a piece of orchestral music of their own choosing - judges - Sir Roger Norrington, Dominic Seldis, Zoe Martlew plus guest judge international violin virtuoso Maxim Vengerov - will rate their performances before the BBC Concert Orchestra votes one student out.

For the finale the remaining two contestants will both conduct the 1st movement of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
Sue Perkins – looks favourite, although the tremendous power of Beethoven’s 5th should suit Goldie’s style.
What a pity four could not have gone through to the final.

Mrs Emma Peel

EllyMack

I reckon so. Goldie second.

I still find Jane Asher very clinical and lacking in authority. If she were stood in front of me waving her stick, I'm not sure how much confidence I would have in her or how much respect I would be able to give her. I get a sense of "oh, aren't we having the most jolly fun here?" from her.

And I'm not too sure about this need to dress up in opera frocks either. I like my conductors to look smart and professional, and not pretending to be guest soloists. I mean, how would we feel if a guy turned up to conduct in trackie bottoms and a vest?

mrs_emma_peel

Hugely enjoyable Final of incredibly high quality – tremendous music selections – loved Jane Asher conducting Mozart’s Overture to the Marriage of Figaro, the Strauss: Radetzky March baton relay with Katie Derham’s sexy hip-action wiggles; Rossini’s William Tell Overture and the Brahms Hungarian Dance No.5.
I thought Goldie produced a stunning powerhouse conducting performance of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 and Beethoven’s 5th, a beautifully smooth and moving performance Elgar’s Nimrod and should have won the Maestro title.

Congratulations to Maestro Sue, the Maestro students, mentors, judges, BBC Concert Orchestra, Symphony Chorus and Soloists, Clive Anderson and the BBC production team on an absolutely splendid series of programmes.
Best series of the year.
Bravo!

Mrs Emma Peel

EllyMack

Good final, I thought, and a fair result. I said at the beginning that it would either be Sue or Goldie. I should have put some money on it.

Thought the performance of Radetsky March was fun - as it should be. We play it in my band and we always enjoy doing it - especially the bit where our conductor walks off to conduct the audience and leaves us to it.