The slow, sure rehab of Lord Tony Hall
NewsThe former CEO of the Royal Opera House and DG of the BBC today added a new post to his portfolio.
He is to be chairman of the National History Museum, a sign that he remains on the Civil Service’s list of safe pairs of hands, despite his multiple misjudgements at the BBC.
Lord Hall, 73 is also chair of the unhappy City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
This man has more lives than a cat.
Lord Tony Hall who exonerated Martin Bashir when it was obvious that Bashir had used subterfuge and deception to obtain his interview with Princess Diana. Don’t know about the Natural History Museum, he’d surely be more at home at the newly opened Paradox Museum in the “defying gravity” room.
he must be short of
money if he needs a
job at 73.
Is Tony Hall the Paula Vennells of the UK’s cultural life?
The tone deaf “elite” simply move from one appointment to another, patting themselves on the back on a regular basis.
He may have multiple jobs, but he only has one name: “Tony, Lord Hall”. More formerly, Baron Hall of Birkenhead, a member of the House of Lords.
The curtesy title “Lord Tony Hall”, would designate instead the second son of a Duke or Marquess, by definition NOT a member of the House of Lords. Lord Hall is, according to Wikipedia, the son of a bank manager from The Wirral.
Surprised he’s got so much spare time on his hands with the CBSO debacle and Ms Steyning to deal with to avoid the total destruction of this fine band…?
Tony Hall was superb in Covent Garden. Monica Mason went so far as to call him “the best boss that anybody could ever work for”.
He also inherited some extremely dismal circumstances in the BBC thereafter. Any board would be lucky to have him as a chairman. Good corporate governance often means making decisions that are not popular and can appear as misjudgments to those without all the facts, and consequences to other decisions. The extension of British exceptionalism (interestingly always centre stage in the editorial and comments on Slipped Disc) yet again clouds the good news of this appointment. British institutions now have to fight for their place in a global world (yes, even in the green and pleasant land) and not just assume their place. Welcome to life outside the Empire.
Mr Krupke, could you explain how what this article has to say about Lord Hall has anything to do with “British Exceptionalism” in any shape or form? I might add that only very elderly British citizens can even remember the Empire, let alone think they’re still part of it.
I fear Officer Krupke is a Remoaner. They all tend to talk like this…
A resident of New York’s West Side. A fierce opponent of the British since he read that nice pamphlet that someone in foyer gave him while he was leaving “Riverdance”.
I agree completely that Tony H was stellar at ROH. He was transformative for the organisation, building on the exceptional work of Michael Kaiser, and grew it into a £100million/year turnover organisation. It’s a pity that the BBC stuff haunts his career, as I found him to be an exceptional chief exec at the beginning of my career.
The BBC has evolved since then:
“Misjudgements” (aka last year’s Classical Music strategy debacle) are no longer met with removal, they’re rewarded with executive promotion and immunity.
OK, so as it’s in London it probably thinks it is the ‘National’ History Museum, but it’s actually the Natural History Museum. Two new gardens opening today too (free to entry).
With no background or expertise in science should be a good fit in the Natural History Museum. After all Stenning with no music background is doing wonders for the CBSO.
How do these people get appointed?
We had a very *happy* night at the CBSO last night: an all-Schubert programme performed in Birmingham Town Hall. Mary Bevan performing songs orchestrated by Berlioz, Britten, Reger, Brahms and Schubert himself, followed by a rollicking Symphony 9 conducted by Edward Gardner. Business as usual in Birmingham.
No drinks in the auditorium or film clips or even Ms Stenning slobbing around policing the audience?
Oh, of course, it’s holiday time isn’t it?
Actually, Emma Stenning was present at Town Hall for the concert, I saw her myself in the interval.
It was great to be up close and personal with the orchestra in the the relatively intimate atmosphere of Town Hall, and Ed Gardner et all were on fine form, returning the next day to record it all as the final component of the Schubert cycle.
We’re a very happy City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra thanks
Couldn’t agree more, roll on next season! Thanks for the lovely comments on the Schubert 🙂