A Cuture Secretary’s very short memory
NewsIn The Times today, Lord Smith of Finsbury argues that ENO (of which he is a board member) needs to be saved because it is doing ‘outstanding and innovative artistic work in recent years’.
In November 1997 the then-Chris Smith, culture secretary in Tony Blair’s new Cabinet, thought differently. He piled on political pressure to merge English National Opera with the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet under a single roof – a move that would have abolished ENO.
So what changed his mind?
Amnesia?
Great call, NL!
It’s been 25 years! He serves on ENO’s board! Presumably he’s learned a little something!
Yes, some people do change their minds over a 25-year horizon. This is neither unusual nor reprehensible. In fact, the world would be a better place if some people were more prepared to change their minds.
As usual, the Arts in the UK are run by Men in Suits! Just reading the Guardian article by Wriggleworth stating Management Consultancy McKinsey were brought in to help ENO says it all.
Unfortunately, whilst the Arts in our country are extraordinary, there’s still an amateur perception that it is not deemed a “proper job”.
We are speaking to people who are both deaf and governed by tick box mentality.
I despair for my fellow artists, nothing shall ever change.
Yes indeed, EP. And why stop at the arts in the UK? What about the Suits that run the NHS? In my experience, excellent practitioners but diabolical administrators.
So, if I’m understanding your line of reasoning, if “Lord” Chris Smith’s job was, indeed, “proper”, he shouldn’t be wearing a suit? . . . perhaps a leisure suit, or something more hyphy.
I don’t care if or why he changed his mind, as long as ENO stays alive.
The fightback begins! Nothing is more heartening than to see the London Smarterati circle the wagons to repulse the ACE and provincial philistines.
After what has been a really slow start the Guardian has finally managed to ratchet up the outrage, though in fairness they are at least reporting on other organisations impacted by the cuts. But the word is out, ENO must be saved and what does it matter about the consequences for less deserving and, it must be said, less favoured by the London based great and the good?
The Government are clearly forcing cuts dressed up as levelling up but the focus is now on how it affects London by those who are now taking to the barricades on behalf of ENO but wouldn’t find time for anything outside their narrow cultural horizon.
Lord Smith is surely one amongst many who will now fight the virtuous fight on behalf of ENO whilst other NPO’s wonder when their funding will be cut so that those that can can say that whilst the Coliseum is not ideal it has better sight lines than Covent Garden whilst the rest of us just wonder whether that’s worth WNO not being able to give english regional audiences a chance to see anything at all.
Plenty of comments here about touring opera.
However, I’ve yet to read any pearls of wisdom in the Manchester Evening News.
“Very short memory”. Not at all compared to politicians nowadays. Since 2016, way too many of them, especially right wing Tories, changed their stories so quick so often. It makes 25 years like a life time.
The current load of tory shysters change their stories almost as often as they change their socks, just as it suits them.
I’m old enough to remember that ‘man in a grey suit’, Sir Keith Joseph, who in the 1970s wanted to merge the Royal College and Royal Academy (of Music) into one ‘super college’ ! I was at the RAM at the time, but very happily, it didn’t get anywhere…
I spoke to Chris Smith at the time as we had been invited to a Jewish celebration independently, and I had been asked to sing some opera, so he knew I could sing and what I did for a living. I found him a nicer man than the media would want to portray him. He listened intently and no idea what effect that had, but yes he did listen to me as someone who didn’t work for either opera company and you could say also an ordinary member of the public as well. I had forgotten all about this from 25 years ago until now. Wonder what would have happened if there had been a merger? Times and the economy in 1997 were very different to now, so I don’t know. But glad he is now defending ENO and highlighting the great work they had been doing in ways other companies haven’t. No idea why he thought about a merger, but a wise person changes their minds.
25 years? Situations change. (Though I wish they wouldn’t!)