We hear from a couple of agents that the Royal Opera House is offering one-fifth of the value of the artist contracts it has cancelled during the pandemic period.

That’s better than the hard-nosed Met, but still way below English National Opera, which is paying all contracts in full.

What’s happening at other state operas?

UPDATE: ROH has sent a notice to agents today, confirming the payoff to all artists, regardless of size of commitment, will be 20% (as reported above).

ARTNews reports that Mayor Bill de Blasio, facing financial disaster, is proposing to take $10.6 million out of the Department of Cultural Affairs budget. Small change for Wall Street, but dire for the arts.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has allocated 5,000 free tickets to NHS workers once concerts resume.

CBSO Chief Exec Stephen Maddock said: ‘While we’re doing everything we can to keep music alive through online and digital work, we can’t wait to get back to performing for our live audiences once again here in Birmingham. And when we do, we would like to say a huge thank you to NHS workers by offering them tickets to the next concerts in our centenary season and beyond. We hope that they will be able to join us to celebrate their incredible work.’

Members of the CBSO Chorus, one tenth of whom work for the NHS, have released a distances video of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’.

Chorus member Dr Helen Chamberlain says: ‘In normal times an evening of singing is my favourite way to unwind from a busy day in the hospital. The CBSO Chorus is like another family where we share fabulous musical experiences – and a few drinks from time to time! At the moment the NHS is another family too – one that I am seeing a lot of. I am looking forward to many things when this crisis lessens, one of which is the joy of singing with my friends again.’

Chorus member Dr Louise Davis says: ‘Singing with the CBSO Chorus and being amongst supportive friends who all share the same intense love of music can make a difficult day disappear. We focus on singing, on creating the notes, nothing else, and the worries and stress evaporate. I often leave rehearsals full of joy, laughing and smiling and as refreshed as if I had just had a really good sleep!’