Axing of BBC Singers and related cuts

[Ein Heldenleben]

Good letter in today's Times (unable to post link) from John Bridcut, who has been working with the BBCSSO on a Tippett documentary.

Here it is

“BBC SINGERS AXED
Sir, The decision to axe the BBC Singers and 20 per cent of the salaried musicians in the three English BBC orchestras (report, Mar 8) is a further blow to the arts, in which regional diversity is the cloak for an assault on excellence. Some decades ago, some of the BBC orchestras could have been regarded as a little workaday, but in recent years they have become world-class. I have just spent several days filming the music of Michael Tippett with the BBC Scottish Symphony in Glasgow for BBC2, and witnessed its stunning musicianship and versatility. Instead of boasting about the cuts as “bold, ambitious and good for audiences who love classical music”, BBC management should be honest about the pain involved for professional singers, musicians and audiences.
John Bridcut
Producer, Michael Tippett, a Child of His Time (working title), Crux Productions; Liss, Hants”

Love the way he gets a plug for his film in….(twice)

[Bryn]

https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BBC-Conductors-Sign-Open-Letter-Protesting-Against-Classical-Music-Cuts-20230309

and for those who care to put up with the paywall: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f...033a356dab36cc

[Bryn]

Petition against the closure here: https://chng.it/LVKdstCZBH

We could also do with one against the cuts to the orchestras.

Fast heading for 40,000 signatories.

[vinteuil]

.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/09/conductors-condemn-shortsighted-plans-to-disband-bbc-singers

.

[french frank]

Fast heading for 40,000 signatories.

Remember the 'axeing of 6 Music'? I doubt the number of signatures for the BBC Singers/Orchestras will match that for a popular music station, but it's about strength of feeling, not numbers.

[eighthobstruction]

Fast heading for 40,000 signatories.

...and some epic chipping in

[french frank]

...and some epic chipping in

Saw your name pop up, 8th

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-planned-closure-of-the-bbc-singers

[eighthobstruction]

....outed

[edashtav]

I agree with you . The problem is you hear just as much BBC bashing from the left these days as from the right. I think the German TV licence is around 220 euros a year. With that sort of money there would be no question of cutting BBC orchestras - we’d be talking about one in each BBC English Region.

Agreed.

[RichardB]

Agreed.

Even so, the SWR in southwestern Germany succeeded just a few years ago, in the face of considerable opposition, in merging their two symphony orchestras into one, by (to simplify somewhat) putting everyone on half-time contracts.

[Vox Humana]

and for those who care to put up with the paywall: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f...033a356dab36cc

No paywall here. Some very pertinent points made. Interestingly, Morrison estimates the saving from axing the BBC singers at 'less than £1.5m". I don't know how he worked this out, but presumably there are expenses other than the singers' salaries, e.g. the cost of commisioning new compositions? (Just what are the singers paid? Anyone know?) Valid point, too, about amalgamating two of the orchestras—in other words, axing one. With 20% job cuts in view, it's hard to see how that can be avoided. Indeed, it must always have been the intention—unless, I suppose, their schedules will allow them to share personnel.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Even so, the SWR in southwestern Germany succeeded just a few years ago, in the face of considerable opposition, in merging their two symphony orchestras into one, by (to simplify somewhat) putting everyone on half-time contracts.

There’s a quite interesting comparison between German and Uk orchestra provision in the BOP report referred to on the BBC acute press release. Orchestral provision is very much concentrated in London in a way that it isn’t in Germany .

[Ein Heldenleben]

No paywall here. Some very pertinent points made. Interestingly, Morrison estimates the saving from axing the BBC singers at 'less than £1.5m". I don't know how he worked this out, but presumably there are expenses other than the singers' salaries, e.g. the cost of commisioning new compositions? (Just what are the singers paid? Anyone know?) Valid point, too, about amalgamating two of the orchestras—in other words, axing one. With 20% job cuts in view, it's hard to see how that can be avoided. Indeed, it must always have been the intention—unless, I suppose, their schedules will allow them to share personnel.

Excellent piece by Morrison . Couldn’t have encapsulated the arguments better. My guesstimate would be mid thirties with 30 per cent added on for NI employer costs and pension contributions- more if they are fortunate to be in the now closed defined benefits scheme. £1,4 million seems like a wild over- estimate but I have no idea how many ancillary staff there are . I supposed because they tour that has to be added and that could add up to a lot. Easily £250 per night away with travel.

[Nick Armstrong]

Fast heading for 40,000 signatories.

Make that 50,000 now…

[Bryn]

The comedian formerly known as Caliban here: Apologies Bryn! I clicked Edit rather than Reply !

Can you repost? Sorry!