Pronounciation

[Randolph]

I take great umbrage at people who tell me how to pronounce composers' names which from their spelling appear obvious. For example why should I pronounce Richard Wagner's Christian name Rishard and Richard Strauss's as Rickard. The Russian pronounciations are the most vexing. If they intended Pletnev to be pronounced Pletnyev why did they not insert the 'y' before the 'e'. There are many similar examples strewn in Russian nomenclature. I had occasion the other day to be told off from a very irate Russian listener because I pronounced Goudonov as it was spelled. No, he retorted, it is pronounced, GODUNOV. Another example is David Porcelijn which I pronounced Porceline...no, I was told it is Porcelane. If people want their names pronounced differently why not spell it that way, I ask. What do you guys think? Cheers. RMO

[Louise]

Perhaps you could invite your irate listener to have a go at pronouncing the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, singing an anthem by Berkeley, accompanied by organist Paul Brough...

[Randolph]

Louise ta for yours...for a non-Anglo-Saxon your examples would be difficult. Another classic is Malotte who wrote, amongst other things, The Lord's Prayer. Who on earth would realise it's pronounced Moohlaht? And if you want to pronounce Eugene (as in Eugene Onegin)Yevgeny why write it as Eugene? And why not put the 'y' before the 'e' if you want to pronounce Onegin as Onyegin? If you as a listener can understand what I am trying to say why bother to complain?

[Randolph]

And then you can't keep the Celts out of the equation. Look at how Siobahn, Niamh, Aisling and Sean are spelled and how different their pronounciation is!