Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra in financial difficulties

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Brighton has a population of about 160,000 so perhaps it shouldn't expect to support an orchestra.

Well, it has done since 1925, and continues to do so, thanks to the support of at least some of its quarter-million population.

But you are quite right about the astonishing commitment to Music shown by the people of Bamberg.

[Alain Maréchal]

Sorry Alain but that's not correct. At the 2011 census Bournemouth had a pop of 180,000; the twin towns of Brighton & Hove 273,000.

Brighton is closer to London and, therefore, within easy reach of most concertgoers while Bournemouth traditionally has looked for its audience through giving concerts right across the south west.

Thank you for the correction: my figures were based on 2007 weighted capitation derived from wards, when I last had the pleasure/duty of calculating how many of them were likely to die from flu*. There are various ways of calculating a population, depending on the criteria, which are not always local authority boundaries. B&H had only become a unitary body a few years previously, and there was some disparity between the wards and the economic areas. I don't think the rebasing invalidates the argument that it doesn't have the economically active population density financially to support an orchestra.

*I overestimated, as it happens.

[Alain Maréchal]

Well, it has done since 1925, and continues to do so, thanks to the support of at least some of its quarter-million population.

But you are quite right about the astonishing commitment to Music shown by the people of Bamberg.

I think, from what I have learned in this thread, that Brighton no longer has 'an orchestra'. What it has is a body of musicians moonlighting from their day jobs who come together to play.

Bamberg definitely has an orchestra, with an historic identity derived from their cultural origins as the orchestra of the German Opera in Prague when the Sudeten germans had to leave after the war (a bit of ethnic cleansing that doesn't get mentioned much). Many German cities cling to their former status as duchies or indeed kingdoms, and maintain the cultural heritage out of pride. After the war they were more or less rebuilt along with sporting institutions as the sort of thing any self-respecting city should have. This means that many of them "pull above their weight" (is that the correct english idiom?) and are currently questioning the commitment. However, Germany does seem to be managing rather better than the rest of Europe, and perhaps Germans place a greater emphasis on maintaining their regional cultural identity.

(I used to question the capabilities of these small german cities, until I visited Osnabrueck, (pop. < 200,000 - Wikipedia) in the 90s, and saw how well they mounted Mathis Der Maler)

[Sir Velo]

I don't think the rebasing invalidates the argument that it doesn't have the economically active population density financially to support an orchestra.

Well I don't think it's quite that simple. You may not be aware but there is now a de facto south coast conurbation stretching from Littlehampton through Worthing to Brighton (18 miles or so of continuous settlement), with an estimated population of 473,000. As a well known butt of jokes, Worthing has an aged population (chock full of potential concertgoers one would think).

On the other side of Brighton, it's only a few miles to Eastbourne, and then onto Hastings. Moreover, one should also not underestimate the effect of nearby Glyndebourne on raising the profile of the area culturally. Therefore, at least from the point of view of population, Brighton could easily sustain a significant provincial orchestra. As ever, the problems are getting the initial funding to begin with, attracting the right kind of music director, and competing with the four London orchestras in a very crowded market.

Perhaps its the grim weather.

Oh, and one last thing: Sussex has traditionally boasted the best weather in the UK, with an average of 1,900 hours of sunshine over the last 20 years.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think, from what I have learned in this thread, that Brighton no longer has 'an orchestra'. What it has is a body of musicians moonlighting from their day jobs who come together to play.

Fair enough (although that description also fits the LPO) - suffice it, then, to remark that the fine citizens of Brighton have ceased their drunken brawls and sleazy sirenings to raise sufficient funds to enable their body of moonlighters to continue to come together and play.

[BBMmk2]

Ferney!! :)

[jean]

...perhaps Germans place a greater emphasis on maintaining their regional cultural identity...

To some extent, that's a result of having been a united country for a relatively short time. I don't mean the most recent East/West divide, but all those centuries pre-Bismarck.

Italian regions benefit similarly - who would expect to find the best opera in Rome?

[...many of them "pull above their weight" (is that the correct english idiom?)...

It's punch above their weight - a metaphor from boxing.]

[Alain Maréchal]

Well I don't think it's quite that simple. You may not be aware but there is now a de facto south coast conurbation stretching from Littlehampton through Worthing to Brighton (18 miles or so of continuous settlement), with an estimated population of 473,000. As a well known butt of jokes, Worthing has an aged population (chock full of potential concertgoers one would think).

On the other side of Brighton, it's only a few miles to Eastbourne, and then onto Hastings. Moreover, one should also not underestimate the effect of nearby Glyndebourne on raising the profile of the area culturally. Therefore, at least from the point of view of population, Brighton could easily sustain a significant provincial orchestra. As ever, the problems are getting the initial funding to begin with, attracting the right kind of music director, and competing with the four London orchestras in a very crowded market.


Oh, and one last thing: Sussex has traditionally boasted the best weather in the UK, with an average of 1,900 hours of sunshine over the last 20 years.

I do know about the conurbation, and I agree that a population that size should be able to support more culture, but I have the impression, and the map shows, that it is strung out in a line rather than around a nucleus: unavoidably, given the presence of a coastline. Also my own recollection (and not just recollection, I am near there at the moment - I wish I had known there was a public holiday, I would have deferred my visit) is that public transport is poor and roads substandard. I think this would deter many people from an evening in Brighton.

Your mention of Glyndebourne is interesting (although I rather think you have overestimated the number of local people who go there) : why not have an orchestra which can play for the opera house in summer and Brighton for the rest of the year? Also it could make excursions to Worthing and Eastbourne, rather in the way of the Bournemouth orchestra, which seems to give the same programme two or three times a week around the region (and even visits Portsmouth). Do those other towns look to Brighton as a centre, or as a rival?

"Four London orchestras in a very crowded market" - now there is another problem to be attacked, while you have options, but that needs another thread.

As to weather, I arrived on Thursday night. On Friday it was cloudy. since then it has rained all the time.

[Tony Halstead]

Originally Posted by Alain Maréchal View Post
I think, from what I have learned in this thread, that Brighton no longer has 'an orchestra'. What it has is a body of musicians moonlighting from their day jobs who come together to play

Fair enough (although that description also fits the LPO)- suffice it, then, to remark that the fine citizens of Brighton have ceased their drunken brawls and sleazy sirenings to raise sufficient funds to enable their body of moonlighters to continue to come together and play.

NB My underlining.
Hmm...
Where art thou, LaurieWatt?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

NB My underlining.
Hmm...
Where art thou, LaurieWatt?

I have donned my Flak Jacket in readiness.

[Tony Halstead]

[BBMmk2]

I do know about the conurbation, and I agree that a population that size should be able to support more culture, but I have the impression, and the map shows, that it is strung out in a line rather than around a nucleus: unavoidably, given the presence of a coastline. Also my own recollection (and not just recollection, I am near there at the moment - I wish I had known there was a public holiday, I would have deferred my visit) is that public transport is poor and roads substandard. I think this would deter many people from an evening in Brighton.

Your mention of Glyndebourne is interesting (although I rather think you have overestimated the number of local people who go there) : why not have an orchestra which can play for the opera house in summer and Brighton for the rest of the year? Also it could make excursions to Worthing and Eastbourne, rather in the way of the Bournemouth orchestra, which seems to give the same programme two or three times a week around the region (and even visits Portsmouth). Do those other towns look to Brighton as a centre, or as a rival?

"Four London orchestras in a very crowded market" - now there is another problem to be attacked, while you have options, but that needs another thread.

As to weather, I arrived on Thursday night. On Friday it was cloudy. since then it has rained all the time.

What way do you mean that public transport and roads are poor? There is a very good road system and bus services are very many and regular?

[Dave2002]

Not in the places I go to - do you seek them out?

Didn't one of the UK's former PMs do just that - in order to save/reform/rescue them?

Re the grim weather - there has been some seriously grim weather this year, but also some amazingly warm and sunny weather - for some also grim, but for different reasons. I think you (Alain) returned to the UK at a point of transition, as much of last week the weather was very pleasant.

[Bax-of-Delights]

Coming back to this thread after a few days away I see we have moved on a little. In my original reply I forgot to mention Glyndebourne - a major world opera house (is it not?) - which, at present, is just 30 minutes drive away and well served by public transport (as is all of Brighton and Hove I should add). There can be few other areas outside of the large conurbations that has such a wealth and variety of cultural offerings than the 15 miles around Brighton.

By the by I visited Eastbourne last week for the first time in months and was dismayed by the apparent poverty of the town itself which had many empty shops, a plethora of charity shops and what my father would have described as wandering bands of knuckle-draggers. I couldn't see myself being happy there.

I've probably argued myself into staying where I am!

[BBMmk2]

Not Storrington then?