Nominations for the BBC’s classical advisory group
NewsFrom today’s BBC statement on classical cuts:
As part of the delivery of these ambitious plans, Simon Webb, the BBC’s Head of Orchestras and Choirs, will convene a new Classical Advisory Group of industry leaders from across the classical music sector outside of the BBC.
Hmmm… who would we like to see on it?
1 Stuart Murphy, ENO’s sinking chief
2 Lord Nick Kenyon, committee member for life
3 Chi-chi Nwanoku, obvs
4 Anna Lapwood, ‘classical music’s dream ambassador’
5 Nicholas Collon, so that all meetings will be held standing and without sheets
6 Lord Tony Hall, ex-Covent Garden chief with impeccable hiring record
7 Erik Ten Hag (or anyone from Manchester)
8 Claudia Winkelman and her street pianists (pictured)
9 Barren Henley from the Arts Council
10 Asylum seeker to play the ‘oud
Why on earth would anyone think putting Chi-Chi in a collaborative group setting is a good idea?
It’s possible that NL was not being entirely unironic. The pitiful thing is that, given how the sector works, these are probably exactly the sort of names we’ll get. Networks (and ticked boxes) are all.
Irony alert. Norman was actually cracking a half-decent joke or 10 though you may need to bregzitish to get all the references.
Why on earth would anyone think that NL’s tongue was anywhere other than in his cheek when he posted that list?
Can anyone shed light on how the post of “Head of Orchestras and (ex) Choir” came into being only weeks before this destruction was commenced?
Isn’t that a bit like putting a boa constrictor in charge of the goat feeder?
Gareth Malone, obvs
Tick box exercise. How about asking actual working musicians, instead of suits?
This has Webb’s greasy fingerprints all over it. He was a loathed orchestra manager in Birmingham. He’s ever-smiling, two-faced, slippery as an eel. His first instinct was always to cut musicians’ salaries. None of us trusted him an inch. With people like him in charge what hope do musicians have?
I nominate Stephen Maddock. Worked at BBC before leading the CBSO for 23 years. Now moving on to run Birmingham Conservatoire.
At this rate, there’s going to be no point in having institutions like Birmingham Consrrvatoire – how many music jobs have been lost/threatened in last 6 months?
Stephen will have a challenge convincing young musicians it’s a career worth pursuing. Glyndebourne Tour, WNO, ENO, BBC Singers, Britten Sinfonia… It’s a very limited and precarious pool left…
Anna Lapwood would be a complete disaster. She’s an ambassador for herself and the lowest common denominator.
Maybe, but rather Karen Gibson (of The Kingdom Choir) if one wants to be inclusive about it or any of the Kanneh-Mason clan – and probably the only person who would not object to Chi-Chi is the woman herself. Heaven help us. I’d do it, but alas I am (i) the wrong sex, (ii) the wrong skin colour, (iii) the wrong sexual orientation [hetero], (iv) the wrong side of 50, and (v) somewhat crucially, I know something about and care about classical music, albeit mainly the stuff written by dead white males. Jeez, I’m only fit for the firing squad…
Advisory group(s)? Parenthetically and pathetically should be how to squander declining govt funding.
Nadine Dorries for detailed insight to represent those with none.
Norman, what a brilliantly satirical comment. I never thought I would live to see the day when so much in the way of cultural achievement of the past few decades is now being deliberately left to wither and perish, ostensibly for financial reasons. Yet the BBC has no problem finding the £10 million for a revamped TV news studio and enough dosh to decorate Kuenssberg’s studio with graphics more suited to the Teletubbies. Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.
They forgot to list Alan Titchmarsh, he knows all about manure, I can see none of the above as any use at all. What about Monty Don!
No knowledge of music is necessary at all since the BBC has dumbed down