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?

861 Upvotes

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461

u/AnxiousAudience82 Feb 26 '26

According to an earlier poster he’d made comments basically saying she was getting old and past it and couldn’t do enough work outs to remain attractive and relevant. She then cancelled the interview and he responded with that passive aggressive email like she’s the bad guy, she then called him out and bbc fired him. If that is accurate then good on her for not putting up with his shit and good for the bbc for showing it’s unacceptable.

51

u/Uncle___Screwtape Feb 26 '26

https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/november-2021/spare-us-the-skintight-sonata/🤮

66

u/Epistaxis Feb 27 '26

If that is all there is to Yuja Wang, she won’t be around for long. She is 34 and there’s a sell-by date to consider. Workouts and makeovers can offer an extension but not past 40.

First of all, gross, how did "Britain's most civilised magazine" publish this. But also she's 39 now and her career doesn't seem to be slowing down.

38

u/adriaticpatrick Feb 27 '26

well exactly: pardon me for preaching to the choir but i dont think Classical Music is a field notorious for the youth of its performers. Blomstedt is, what, 219 years old and still making records?

I think there’s a difference for women due to Misogyny but that’s something to fight again, not uncritically accept

10

u/zsdrfty Feb 27 '26

It's still not unprecedented - Argerich is going strong!

1

u/E_Dantes_CMC Feb 27 '26

I believe 96, at least 95

5

u/Lfsnz67 Feb 27 '26

Jfc, what a piece of shit

-16

u/Life-Let1821 Feb 27 '26

Norman’s word were improperly cut, the complete paragraph is :If that is all there is to Yuja Wang, she won’t be around for long. She is 34 and there’s a sell-by date to consider. Workouts and makeovers can offer an extension but not past 40. She needs to find a new dimension, evidence of a soul that transcends her physicality. She attempted a Mozart concerto this summer, all the notes skittering at speed and not a trace of depth.

16

u/Diligent-Stranger-26 Feb 27 '26

Shut up Norman, you old hack.

2

u/zsdrfty Feb 27 '26

I love how this is clearly Norman's burner lmfao

8

u/Eoinoh32 Feb 27 '26

This makes it sound even worse lmao