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Breaking: English National Opera dumps Tippett

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norman lebrecht

March 31, 2022

The cancellation below has just gone out to agents and their artists. It smacks of confusion and desperation. Rehearsals were due to start in August.

Dear [ ]

Please see below an email from ENO’s Chief Executive, Stuart Murphy regarding King Priam in the 22-23 season:

Dear [ ]

Covid 19 is continuing to have a significant impact on everyone right across the country, and the ENO is no exception. One only needs to look across the culture sector to see cancelled films, truncated exhibition tours and delayed opening nights, among a whole range of remedial actions, as we all adapt to this unpredictable climate.

This means we unfortunately have to take some difficult decisions. Regrettably, I am therefore writing to you today to let you know that in the 22-23 season we will no longer be going ahead with King Priam. We are extremely sorry about this.

It is really important to us that we notify you as soon as possible to give you as much time as possible to find alternative work for your artist.

We have looked to find suitable replacement opportunities in our 22-23 and 23-24 season but unfortunately there simply aren’t any suitable roles currently available, as they are already cast. However, if do have any suitable short notice cancellations, we will be in touch straight away.

Throughout the pandemic, and now as we open our doors to audiences again, we have done our utmost to try and look after our freelance artists as best we can. We trust that you will do all you can to find your artist some alternative work in the period and we will also contact our colleagues in other opera companies to assist, should you wish us to do so.

The freelance artists we work with are extremely important to us so to demonstrate our commitment to them we would like to offer to make an ex-gratia payment of 70% of the rehearsal and performance fees they would have received, if they find no alternative work in the period. This payment would be due on 19 October 2022 (the date on which King Priam was due to end).

Total Rehearsal & Performance fees due: £ 14,400

70% of total rehearsal & performance fees: £10,080

Before we pay the 70% fee, we have to take into account any income that your artists may earn in the period, or from this engagement being cancelled and your artist being able to fulfil another overlapping contract, that they would otherwise not be able to do had King Priam gone ahead. We hope you understand.

Put simply this means:

· If your artist earns over 100% of their total King Priam fees in the period, no fee would be payable by ENO

· If your artist earns less than 30% of their total King Priam fees in the period, then ENO will pay 70% of the total rehearsal & performance fees

· If your artist earns more than 30% of their total King Priam fees in the period, then ENO will deduct anything earnt above this amount from the 70% figure quoted above

We please ask that agents and artists make every endeavour to find alternative work in the period and we will ask you to confirm that you have been actively seeking alternative work. We know that the climate is very different at the moment and there are still many short notice engagements coming up, with plans constantly changing. Paying these fees will have a significant financial implication on the ENO which in turn will directly affect the amount of money we have to spend on future work – all the same it feels the fairest thing to do in the light of this decision. We could not leave our freelance artists financially vulnerable.

This is not a decision that we take lightly, and it is a huge loss to us artistically but we feel we have no choice to do so.

I would be grateful if you could reply and acknowledge your receipt and acceptance of the terms and conditions above and once again accept our deepest apologies. We will get through this unique period together, and intend to come out the other end stronger, with our values intact.