ROH candidates:

[french frank]

Rupert Christiansen's assessment.

Rusbridger? Kenyon? Chris Smith?

And, more generally.

To Talking About Music board?

[RobertLeDiable]

Not Ruth McKenzie under any circumstances. Kenyon might well be OK, though it's a huge job to take on at his age when he's already had quite a few years doing big jobs. Anthony Freud might be good, but he's only just got his feet under the desk at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Roger Wright wouldn't be such a bad idea. Rusbridger? That seems a very odd idea. Being an amateur pianist doesn't qualify him - but then Tony Hall was a news man with no experience of running an artistic enterprise.

[Belgrove]

Nicholas Hytner.

Proven pedigree in directing in the operatic form. Exemplary pedigree in theatre direction. Peerless pedigree in theatre administration and interacting through outreach with the public, and with politicians.

He is surely too sensible to take the job were it to be offered.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Kenyon might well be OK, though it's a huge job to take on at his age when he's already had quite a few years doing big jobs.

Anyone except that incompetent bean counter under whose myopic vision and cabbage-like imagination the woe and rot that is the current Radio 3 began. Jonathan Ross would be a better candidate.

[french frank]

but then Tony Hall was a news man with no experience of running an artistic enterprise.

The job is being an arts/music adminstrator, though isn't it? A businessman?

[amateur51]

Anyone except that incompetent bean counter under whose myopic vision and cabbage-like imagination the woe and rot that is the current Radio 3 began. Jonathan Ross would be a better candidate.

He has better suits, I grant you

And if Ross were to get the job, we must give thanks that he wouldn't be required to engage Rostropovich

[aeolium]

What about Brian McMaster? Is he retired now? I thought he was very good at WNO and the Edinburgh Festival.

[amateur51]

What about Brian McMaster? Is he retired now? I thought he was very good at WNO and the Edinburgh Festival.

Yes indeed or Richard Jarman, currently running the Britten celebrations. But perhaps both are older than Kenyon, but there again that shouldn't be an obstacle.

Would Mary Allen like another go?

[Mandryka]

Andrew Neil's name should certainly be there. I'm sure he doesn't give a fig for opera, but it'd be a great role for him and he'd really up the House's profile. Plus, he'd run a tight ship.

[Nick Armstrong]

Andrew Neil's name should certainly be there.

What, Brillo Pad? Are you serious?

he doesn't give a fig for opera, but it'd be a great role for him

Ah yes, you are being sarcastic!

[RobertLeDiable]

The job is being an arts/music adminstrator, though isn't it? A businessman?

There have been far too many instances of large arts organisations being ruined by the once-fashionable notion that a 'businessman' is the answer to running everything. Obviously you need someone with experience of managing a large staff well and keeping budgets under control, but you don't necessarily have to have a businessman/woman for that. It needs to be someone with an overall vision for the place and the ability to recruit good people and inspire them.

I think Brian McMaster is more or less retired now, and Jarman runs the Britten-Pears foundation. He wasn't a huge success at Scottish Opera and is probably nearing retirement himself in any case. You don't really want a practitioner like Hytner, unless he's willing to give up directing and concentrate on management. Kenyon has proved he can run a big arts venue at the Barbican, but I would say Roger Wright is the better placed, by age if nothing else, to do it.

I'm told George Osborne is an opera fan - and he'll be available in a couple of years......

[amateur51]

I'm told George Osborne is an opera fan - and he'll be available in a couple of years......

Sadly for Gideon, I refer you to your own criteria, RLD

Obviously you need someone with experience of managing a large staff well and keeping budgets under control, but you don't necessarily have to have a businessman/woman for that. It needs to be someone with an overall vision for the place and the ability to recruit good people and inspire them.

[french frank]

Word was that Tim Davie actually wasn't very keen to return to marketing after his spell as Director of A&M and then (Acting) Director-General at the BBC. Could be a neat exchange of jobs...

[Mandryka]

I heard David Mellor interviewed on the radio last week: he would be a credible candidate for the job, but I doubt if he wants it (he alluded to how much money he's earning at the moment, so I doubt if the salary would attract him). I think you definitely do need someone with entrepeneurial flair allied to a genuine appreciation of opera/ballet/music generally. Such people do exist, but they are often difficult to locate/persuade.

[RobertLeDiable]

Good grief - please tell me you're joking! That slimey creep would be about the worst possible person to manage anything of importance. The fact that he likes opera is almost enough to make you never want to see another opera ever again. He makes an utterly disreputable living out of peddling his 'opinions' in moronic tabloid newspapers and crap radio shows. The idea that he might be able to lead a great cultural institution filled with highly talented people is laughable.

In other words I don't think it's a very good idea.