Orchestra is mystified by loss of state funding
NewsAmid the hullabaloo over English National Opera, media have overlooked the plight of Britten Sinfonia, an out-of-London band who were stripped yesterday of their entire subsidy.
After 30 hours of shocked silence, they have just responded in dignified fashion:
‘Yesterday we received news of a 100% cut to our Arts Council funding. We never took our NPO status for granted, but like many of you, we are completely mystified by this announcement.
‘We’re proud of our reputation for excellence, and our ongoing track record of deep engagement with communities in the East of England. With your support, we will continue to make our case.’
The orchestra recently released its first Beethoven cycle.
It’s as peculiar as dropping the Donmar.
Indeed, along with touring Glyndebourne and WNO (surely the most ACE friendly part of their work) and the other two London writer theatres.
Yes. Subsidising Glyndebourne Touring to allow its meticulous productions to be seen in towns and cities without resident opera companies seems like an outstanding idea. Same for WNO.
The whole incoherent mess stinks of politics and box ticking.
I know that ‘opra’ is a four-letter word to many in the UK (sneering is almost a reflex), but should the Arts Council/Government really be pandering to this?
I can’t help but look at Chineke’s new £700k vs Britten Sinfonia’s 2018-22 £399k per annum and wonder if BS have been sacrificed – along with some of the other chamber orchestra reductions – for this new addition.
I know who I’d rather listen to and who has excited me most in the boldness of their programming…
Unhelpful to the East of England
I Knew Nick Daniel a bit in Indiana University where he was Professor of Oboe for a brief tenure in the late 90’s- accompanying some of his students. A fine man & musician. My sympathies Nick- the ‘Philistine’ decision makers of our fourth rate nation hey.
Perhaps the clue is in the fact they have just released a Beethoven cycle. Why?
Because it´s fantastic.And it´s coupled with works by Gerald Barry.
Because a commercial recording company asked them to record a Beethoven cycle and paid them for it. That’s why.
It is a fantastic and fresh recording – I wonder whether you have listened to it? I’m all for new ventures and encouraging / inspiring a broader appeal, but if quality is being overlooked no one benefits in the end
A boutique vanity project from the current fashionable Genius in Chief Tom Adès?
A vanity project you say? Like this one?
https://toccataclassics.com/product/rob-keeley-orchestral-music/
The CD booklet documents that generous funding for this recording cycle of Beethoven symphonies (coupled with works by contemporary composers) was donated by a gentleman called Robin Boyle, who might be the same Robin Boyle who until his retirement was manager of Chester Music and then Faber Music (the publishers of Thomas Ades’ music). Anyone who is prepared to put their hand in their pocket to support – substantially – the performance and recording of classical music in the UK is surely to be applauded.
So wrong, so sad. I made a modest donation on the Britten Sinfonia website this morning.
Never mind the quality, feel the politics, seems to have led the thinking in all these decisions.
Didn’t they get a new CEO not that long ago? Wonder what went wrong there…