Richard Pennycuick wrote:

>The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the publicly-funded
>body which runs a national TV network and four radio networks.  It's
>responsible, in general, for the six state symphony orchestras.

This has been true but has recently changed.  As of July 1, all six
orchestras will be independant of the ABC.  Sydney and Melbourne made the
change quite some time ago.  Two others (I think Adelaide and Tasmania)
followed recently (within the last twelve months).  Only WA and Queensland
remain.  All come under the banner of Symphony Australia.  This change was
brought in on July 1, 98.  Since then all the orchestras have been working
towards incorporation and corpratisation.  This is a concern particularly
here in Queensland as it could see the demise of the smaller Queensland
Philharmonic.  The outcome could be an amalgamation between the two.  This
has been discussed on and off for the last ten years and still to date no
final decision.  As a freelance musician, I would like to see both survive
as a reduction to one orchestra would mean a hell of a lot less work.
Either way a decision must be made and made soon.

>It would be possible to quibble about some aspects of the station but I
>think the fundamentals are as they should be.  Personally, I'd like to see
>more unusual music broadcast, but then I remind myself that each of us once
>heard Beethoven's 5th for the first time.

I would like to echo Richards' comments here.  The general programming
of this station is quite good.  There is usually quite a variety of the
classical repertoire to choose from.  Perhaps not as much Australian music
as one could hope for.  There is a weekly "Australian Made" programme but
this is more often than not Australian artists playing standard repertoire.
Nonetheless Australian composers are given the all important airtime.
Overall a good station with programming suited to many tastes.  For me,
it's the only station I listen to.

Matthew Gillett <[log in to unmask]>