The end of ENO?

[Barbirollians]

Trying to portray herself as Henry II to the ENO’s murdering knights.

[Pulcinella]

And Dorries would now have us believe that this whole decision was a stunt!

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nadine-dorries-claims-eno-funding-cut-was-politically-motivated-stunt-tbns7m5bb?shareToken=c06efd970c3b2b66db8fb3b3c6f7c8dc

[ChandlersFord]

So no WNO or GTO in Liverpool. An absolute disgrace.

But hardly surprising.

I’ve noticed that, in recent years, WNO have not exported their more adventurous programming to Liverpool, forcing me to attend performances in Birmingham, as city I dislike and would prefer not to visit. Presumably, the presence of wealthy intellectuals in places like Leamington Spa and Tanworth in Arden explained this programming choice; alas, there are no equivalent wealthy intellectuals on the Wirral.

[oddoneout]

Stephen Crocker, director of the Norwich Theatre Royal, has just been interviewed on Radio 4 PM. He bewailed the removal of GTO and consequent disappearance of all major opera production from his theatre, and therefore from the East of England. Fallout from the Arts Council's utterly shameful bungling continues... no sign of these barbarians resigning, though.

There will be two opera performances from English Touring Opera at Norwich Theatre Royal in March, both with period instruments. Interesting to compare that offering with the GTO November visit which was 2 operas, two nights each, an concert pairing Mozart Requiem with music of Joseph Bologne, and a chamber opera new commission, over a 5 day stay, which I assume would have also included their work in the community - schools care homes etc.
ETO is also at Canterbury, another of GTO's cancelled venues.
This is in no way a criticism of ETO but reading this https://englishtouringopera.org.uk/n...sfer-programme I do wonder what the real agenda is at ACE.
Could/should ENO have looked at a move outside London(even if only to prove why it shouldn't happen), did it miss a trick there? If ETO moves into the slots GTO has had in the past, does that set a precedent - no need for multiple opera offerings to the provinces so long as the generic "opera" box is ticked once or twice. Are all ACE funded organisations given the same level of information about current funding thinking(targets, priorities, activities that tick the right boxes) and some aren't as proactive using that information as others or do some genuinely not know what is required of them as they aren't given feedback etc? On the latter point I seem to remember reading that was the case for some.

[Master Jacques]

So no WNO or GTO in Liverpool. An absolute disgrace.

Stephen Crocker, director of the Norwich Theatre Royal, has just been interviewed on Radio 4 PM. He bewailed the removal of GTO and consequent disappearance of all major opera production from his theatre, and therefore from the East of England. Fallout from the Arts Council's utterly shameful bungling continues... no sign of these barbarians resigning, though.

[Master Jacques]

Well said, Master Jacques. Thank you. You can make that two satisfied readers at least, with special appreciation of The Old Wives Tale, The Card and many of the short stories. (As you'll realise, I have only just caught up with this thread.)

Thank you for doubling the number of AB fans here! The Old Wives Tale is the best of the lot, for me.

Apropos ... the Covent Garden Paul restaurant used to do a delicious Omelette Arnold Bennett, which made the perfect lunch, preferably while reading one of his books. Sad to say, since Covid struck it's off the menu.

[W.Kearns]

If you're referencing Arnold Bennett, by happy chance I'm re-reading Anna of the Five Towns even now, with renewed admiration and pleasure. As with Priestley, Bennett may come in under the cognoscenti's radar these days, but there's still a great deal to savour in the quality (and quiet anger) of his best novels. So he retains at least one satisfied reader!

Well said, Master Jacques. Thank you. You can make that two satisfied readers at least, with special appreciation of The Old Wives Tale, The Card and many of the short stories. (As you'll realise, I have only just caught up with this thread.)

[Ein Heldenleben]

Well we know WNO no longer going to Liverpool.

So no WNO or GTO in Liverpool. An absolute disgrace.

[Barbirollians]

Glyndebourne have announced it won’t be touring this year because of the ACE cut to their funding:

https://www.glyndebourne.com/tour/glyndebourne-is-unable-to-tour-in-2023/?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ACETourannouncement-OTHERMEMBERS-06.01.23&utm_content=version_A&sourceNumber=56341

We await WNO’s decision on touring.

Well we know WNO no longer going to Liverpool.

[french frank]

We await WNO’s decision on touring.

They've already announced that Liverpool has been cut from the touring altogether. They cut the number of visits to Bristol a few years ago.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Glyndebourne have announced it won’t be touring this year because of the ACE cut to their funding:

https://www.glyndebourne.com/tour/glyndebourne-is-unable-to-tour-in-2023/?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ACETourannouncement-OTHERMEMBERS-06.01.23&utm_content=version_A&sourceNumber=56341

We await WNO’s decision on touring.

Yes that’s really levelling up at its finest isn’t it? I see the ENO decision is massively backfiring with Dorries condemning A E’s decision as a political stunt. Which is about as an egregious example of pot and kettle as I’ve ever seen. ACE have absolutely no political nous at all - they couldn’t even offer a press response to the papers yesterday. Absolutely pathetic …

[Belgrove]

Glyndebourne have announced it won’t be touring this year because of the ACE cut to their funding:

https://www.glyndebourne.com/tour/glyndebourne-is-unable-to-tour-in-2023/?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ACETourannouncement-OTHERMEMBERS-06.01.23&utm_content=version_A&sourceNumber=56341

We await WNO’s decision on touring.

[JasonPalmer]

I used to be a regular eno customer, seems a shame to get rid of it. I think it does well in London appealing to the tourists.

[Ein Heldenleben]

This update from Bryn Terfel is worth quoting

“PETITION UPDATE

An update from the ENO

Sir Bryn Terfel Jones, CBE
London, ENG, United Kingdom
24 DEC 2022 —
Thank you for your support of the #LoveENO campaign and signing this petition to support the English National Opera in asking Arts Council England to reverse their decision and reinstate the ENO's funding.
This company is so important in developing incredible artists and staging work of the highest quality and integrity.
I wanted to update you as the ENO have informed me that they are in discussion with Arts Council England and hope they will have news regarding their future in mid-January.
The petition is now at 80,000+ and I thought if we could all send it round (again) to our friends and family and share on our social media channels that it would give a boost to the company over this Christmas period. It would be great to get it to over 100,000 signatures before the New Year.
Thank you once again for your support. Have a wonderful festive season.
Nadolig Llawen,
Sir Bryn Terfel CBE”


Any ideas what this “news” might be ? A reprieve?

[bluestateprommer]

The New York Times had an article on the ACE-induced debacle on ENO a few weeks back:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/09/arts/music/english-national-opera-future.html

Obviously this article couldn't go into depth the way that CJB could on Parterre, but the NYT has a wider audience by comparison. And speaking of CJB:

I didn't have much luck with my first effort, but maybe posting CJB's first commentary on ACE's Facebook page would be better received?

Did ACE pull an Elon Musk and delete or get the link to CJB's articles removed from their social media? If reposting CJB's articles to ENO's various social media feeds hasn't yet been done, maybe it's best to go that route?

BTW, Sir Bryn's on-line petition in support of ENO is past 80K signatures as of now:

https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-the-english-national-opera-s-ace-funding-immediately-a2c61aac-4331-4673-ba2f-ab14514caf77?

PS: Didn't realize that R3 is airing ENO's recent production of G&S The Yeomen of the Guard now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g9z6