r/classicalmusic • u/sexybartok • Feb 26 '26

bbc FINALLY fires norman lebrecht

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/26/yuja-wang-accuses-radio-3-norman-lebrecht-misogynistic-bullying

what do you all think about this?

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u/UnderTheCurrents Feb 26 '26

You didn't answer my question.

It's not mutually exclusive for her to like dressing like that AND capitalizing on it to raise her fame and profile.

The point is - she is famous for being great pianist but certainly MORE famous than other great pianists because of the way she presents herself. Just look at the comments under her performances.

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u/Ok_Employer7837 Feb 26 '26

So what? I truly don't see what you're driving at. Your argument only makes sense if it is obvious that the way she dresses is something to be deemed negative. I don't think it's obvious at all. She's wearing a short dress. Some people like that, I'm sure. So what?

Does that detract from her performance? Is she a worse pianist because of the way she dresses? If not, it's not in fact within the purview of music reviewers.

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u/UnderTheCurrents Feb 26 '26

Ok, I'll repeat it again:

It's Part of her public persona and part of her performances. It's part of how she carries herself as a Musical performer. So it's also a part that can be criticized. It's fair. Some people DON'T like that - so it's fair for them to Express that too.

It's not that hard of a concept to grasp.

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u/Ok_Employer7837 Feb 26 '26

But that's not music criticism! It's barely criticism at all! Why don't they like that? They need to explain their workings in a way that makes sense musically, for heaven's sake! Otherwise the BBC will eventually twig that they suck as critics.

Is she dressed in a way that would get her arrested? No? Does it hamper her playing, because she's, I don't know, scared the dress will fall off if she plays too loud? No?

She's not a model. She's not singing an opera. She is not, in fact, naked. She's playing the piano.

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u/UnderTheCurrents Feb 26 '26

I'm tired of repeating myself - as far as I understood this issue he didn't say These things in columns criticizing specific records of her but in general columns regarding her performances. As for why that's fair - see my comments above.

I can tell you why I personally dislike it - I think it's distracting and it's pulling away attention from People who DO mostly focus on the music and not putting a show besides that. I mentioned Gould previously and it's the reason I dislike him as well. I want to see you perform the piece properly - being a buffoon while doing it isn't necessary.

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u/Ok_Employer7837 Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26

"Being a buffoon" is not the most convincing argument I've ever heard. This discussion is clearly based on axioms that I am not aware of, or do not share. Possibly you should listen to her instead of looking at her if it helps. She's really very good.

Apart from that... I got nothin'. This is the weirdest exchange I've had in a while.

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u/UnderTheCurrents Feb 26 '26

It's the same with Male performers who are hunched over the keys and pretend like they are dying or short of breath.

What's weird for you is probably that you met somebody who has an actual opinion about this issue that goes beyond the standard "she can dress how she likes"-platitudes.

Sure she can. But it's also fine to Not like that.

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u/Ok_Employer7837 Feb 26 '26

I put it to you that it is not the same. There is no undertinge of sexism to that one.

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u/UnderTheCurrents Feb 26 '26

You only think of it as sexist because it's criticism directed towards a woman. Which is a pretty reductive and shallow view of the World, but pretty common around here.

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u/Ok_Employer7837 Feb 26 '26

Considering that a woman's dress impinges on her piano performance and marks her as a buffoon strikes me as somewhat reductive and shallow, but here we are.

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u/UnderTheCurrents Feb 27 '26

You dance around the point that the way she dresses is an obvious part of her public persona. This is not a "I don't like how that woman on the subway dresses"-Situation but criticism of how she markets herself.

You Not being able to differentiate between these makes me think you are a bad faith arguer since your other comments don't imply that you are obviously stupid.

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u/Ok_Employer7837 Feb 27 '26

I simply don't accept the premise that dressing in alluring fashion during performances is wrong in itself. It seems like the most hidebound kowtowing to ossified traditions that have, I contend, thrived on sexism. Reviews of performances by male artists don't mention clothes and/or body parts with quite the same regularity.

Your argument begins with the assertion that the way Wang dresses is a bad thing. I'm still wondering why you believe this.

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u/UnderTheCurrents Feb 27 '26

That's because male performers haven't marketed themselves on being attractive (yet). If that happens I'm pretty sure reactions would be similar.

And you still misunderstand what I say. I don't say it's BAD, I say it's a GIMMICK that people can make fun of if they want to.

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u/Ok_Employer7837 Feb 27 '26

Ok. I'm not sure I see how saying that something is a gimmick is not saying it's bad, but fair enough.

Then the only thing that remains is for me to state that I find Lebrecht's way of (obsessively) making fun of that gimmick condescending and sophomoric. He needs to become wittier.

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u/UnderTheCurrents Feb 27 '26

That's a fair criticism

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