ENO draws singer wrath with unfunny Insta posts

What were English National Opera chiefs thinking when they approved a run of Instagram posts that reduce the art form to puerile mockery?

The posts are neither funny nor intelligent. Several singers are expressing rage. The rest of us are just bemused.

See for yourselves.

No sensible business would ever trash its suppliers in the hope of attracting new customers.
 

Soprano Susan Bullock writes:
Who is writing this garbage and is no one there capable of realising this is utter trash? Clearly not . It makes my heart break.

Darrey Jeffrey, bass-baritone: This an Instagram post (now removed) from my National opera company. Maybe they should read their own hype. Opera of the highest quality doesn’t come from singers who ‘hijack the stage’ with overly inflated egos, ‘dramatically flinging their arms around’ whilst reading from a ‘little book of words’. Well done English National Opera, you have demeaned all of the artists who have worked their entire careers to hone skills, adapt, grow and learn, spending many thousands of hours doing so, for you to belittle everything we do. WE do aim to bring the highest quality opera alive on the Coliseum stage. It’s a shame you don’t see it that way. I hope that I will be introduced to those responsible for this utter garbage on my next visit.

Soraya Maria: WHAT is going on?!?!
I was a Harewood Artist at ENO and have been asked to promote their young artist programme, and help it to gain support, and then the marketing team post this.
There’s a sense of humour and then there is sabotage.
Marketing in opera, particularly in the UK is all over the place.
I was so impressed by the marketing at Irish National Opera from the get go, and it led to sell out shows – a 2,000 seater theatre packed to the rafters with audience members of all ages.
STOP ASSUMING THAT AUDIENCES DON’T LIKE OPERA.

And plenty more.