Letter: The rot in Radio 3

Christopher J. Walker
Wednesday 22 May 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Fiona Maddocks (21 May) has got it quite wrong about Radio 3. The issue is not one of Kensington vowels, the "right pronunciation" and all the other decayed and derelict class-ridden rubbish.

The issue is one of putting across knowledge, information and insight about music. People who recall Patricia Hughes remember her not for her smart voice, but for the unique manner in which she found appropriate words and modulation for saying something valid about music.

The tragedy of the present regime at Radio 3 is that it has lost the way of saying and speaking appropriate things about music. That is not easy, and requires insight, imagination as well as a great deal of humility before the music itself. In these days of personality-driven media stars, perhaps it is this last element which is most irrecoverably lost.

CHRISTOPHER J WALKER

London W14

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in