What does the future hold for the BBC Orchestras?

[vinteuil]

.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/13/bbc-changes-course-on-proposed-cuts-to-english-orchestras

.

[Pulcinella]

The Times has this:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bbc-orchestra-cuts-paused-for-talks-with-musicians-union-nsnlszpvg?shareToken=74dbb6b594f02bb6d0c68a6911f6f7ef

[Pulcinella]

Richard Morrison and Simon Rattle in today's Times:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/conductor-simon-rattle-interview-bbc-protest-concert-2023-972s9r0zz?shareToken=818aeee725e432264a6fc5408480ca97

[french frank]

Richard Morrison and Simon Rattle in today's Times:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...6fc5408480ca97

Very, very strange how the powers that be (BBC, ACE, government) talk so much about broadening audiences for classical music, making the audiences more diverse, focusing on audiences outside London ... while at the same time ordering swingeing cuts to classical music(ians).

[Cockney Sparrow]

Very, very strange how the powers that be (BBC, ACE, government) talk so much about broadening audiences for classical music, making the audiences more diverse, focusing on audiences outside London ... while at the same time ordering swingeing cuts to classical music(ians).

It seems there is tight control of spending all over - public sector pay behind the convenient excuse of averting wage / price inflation. To level up, they need to withdraw funding from London centric organisations. The BBC cuts are the result of the present government's longer term undermining, and I'm not sure in that case its even shroud waving - as the previous BBC SO manager said, managerially when it comes to the orchestras (+ the singers, on the organisation chart) Herod has been left in charge of the creche* - unenlightened managers have just decided to impose percentage cuts in the most destructive, but they hope least controversial (orchestras) way. *Is it not the case that the same applies to ACE?

I think the government hopes to scrape enough funds within a post Truss Budget scenario to announce a 1p tax income tax cut prior to the general election, without the markets' confidence falling into a death spiral again.

As Gardiner said, no-one in power gives a flying fig about the arts, excellence, etc.

[smittims]

I've sometimes felt it's even worse than not giving a fying fig. I think there are people who actually hate classical music and want to eradicate it. They seem to resent its existence , perhaps from some psychological problem within themselves. Good subject for a PhD thesis?

[pastoralguy]

I've sometimes felt it's even worse than not giving a fying fig. I think there are people who actually hate classical music and want to eradicate it. They seem to resent its existence , perhaps from some psychological problem within themselves. Good subject for a PhD thesis?

The most depressing aspect of the Rattle article in the Times was reading the comments and finding so many individuals who have the attitude of ‘I don’t go to the theatre/concerts/opera so why should my tax money pay for it?’

[smittims]

Yes, that is so uncivilised. Britain hasn't been invaded since 1066 so why do we need to pay for an army? I'm never ill so why do we need an NHS? etc. etc .

No man is an island...

[Bryn]

. . . No man is an island...

I am:



Not that I have ever been there, as yet.

[french frank]

The most depressing aspect of the Rattle article in the Times was reading the comments and finding so many individuals who have the attitude of ‘I don’t go to the theatre/concerts/opera so why should my tax money pay for it?’

A few years ago one of the BBC Trustees (remember the BBC Trust?), Diane Coyle, produced a paper for the BBC on delivering 'public value'. There was a section about such topics as opera, Radio 3, classical music &c. It made the point that many respondents said they didn't listen/enjoy such things themselves but approved of their existence for the benefit of those for whom they were entertainment; and perhaps, who knows?, for the benefit of their own children in years to come.** But the BBC Trust of the Great and the Good was always, slightly timidly, more supportive than - apparently - the current BBC Executive Board which has replaced the Trust.

But there will always be those - much in evidence in the age of the internet - who noisily take the view that this is money wasted on 'the wealthy who can afford to pay for their pleasures without public subsidy'.

** I have a feeling this was in the context of measuring something called 'good citizenship' where people weren't motivated entirely by their own selfish demands.

[vinteuil]

I am:



Not that I have ever been there, as yet.

... but even Harris is not an island - it needs Lewis to be entire...

.

[Bryn]

... but even Harris is not an island - it needs Lewis to be entire...

.

An uncle of mine was a Lewis, William Lewis.

[cria]

Not many people know that

[french frank]

Not many people know that

More do than yesterday.

[Serial_Apologist]

More do than yesterday.

All the hundreds of thousands who eagerly follow this forum, for starters!