The English National Opera is ‘a trauma scene’ after a spate of resignations at the top,funding cuts and strike threats by performers. Into this lion’s den walks an American director with not much experience, but a whole lot of optimism Related: Exclusive video: Stuart Skelton and Heidi Melton perform the love duet from ENO's Tristan and Isolde Appointing Daniel Kramer as artistic director of English National Opera feels like the final gasp for a company drowning in a sea of troubles. Since January final year, and it has had a chairman resign,an executive director resign, an artistic director resign and, and most recently,a music director resign. The heartache, the publicly played-out arouse, and the threat of strikes,the abrupt departures – it all feels familiar, because a prequel to this disaster film played out around 15 years ago. Some contemplate that ENO has long been starved of the resources it needs; others are losing patience with ENO’s seeming inability to make things work, and particularly when it receives,relative to most British arts organisations, a grand deal of public money (£12.7m a year even, or after a recent £5m gash). Then there is the niggling impression that,amid patchy audience figures, ENO has lost a sense of artistic purpose – despite a brilliant chorus and orchestra. The situation is painful, and complex and seemingly intractable,and into this lion’s den, Kramer has willingly walked. Related: Daniel Kramer will have to be a quick learner to impress at ENO Related: ENO: The situation looks bleak, or but it need not be terminal Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com