GEORGE ORWELL’S use of the BBC as a template for totalitarian casuistry can look obsolete nowadays. But the corporation can usually be relied upon to throw up an executive to revive the stereotype. Step forward Roger Wright, Controller of Radio 3. His objection to proposals to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart combines pomposity with a startling contempt for self-interest.

Apparently broadcasting all of Mozart’s work in one go would be “detrimental to the music”. Poor Mozart might come across as too “chocolate boxy” for Radio 3.

Mr Wright will struggle to explain how performance can harm music. As for the chocolate box problem, the controller appears to be suggesting that total immersion in Mozart might make his work sound unchallenging and accessible.

Well, heaven forfend. What could be worse than Radio 3 nurturing more widespread admiration for a musician whose operatic work alone makes him one of the most universally appreciated of composers?

One answer, presumably acceptable even in the conference rooms of Broadcasting House, is that Radio 3 needs popularity a lot more than Mozart does. In August it sunk to its lowest audience share of only 1.91 million listeners or 1.1 per cent.

At this nadir of popularity the station budget of £32 million represented a cost of £16.75 per listener per year. The traditional joke that it would be cheaper to send a CD to each aficionado is out of date. Despatching tickets for the concert of their choice would be more economical.

The irony is that before his festive fit of the vapours Mr Wright seemed to be steering the right course. His ten-day festival of back-to-back works by J.S.Bach attracted a rapturous reception. Similar delight greeted last year’s broadcasts of Beethoven. Even the complete works of Anton Webern sounded less deranged than anticipated, although that owed much to Webern’s oeuvre taking only 24 hours against 136 for Beethoven.

Doing for Mozart what Controller Wright has already done for composers less closely associated with beautiful melody can only boost ratings. He has a steep hill to climb. Classic FM attracts six million listeners. He should make a start by following the excellent advice of a former BBC Director-General. Cut the crap, Roger.