Opera companies here and abroad are evolving and providing better value for money. whether the ENO doesn’t become one of them,its future is at riskT he fate of English National Opera’s chorus has stirred angry debate in the last week. Of course I feel concern for individuals in a company, but opera itself faces problems greater than ENOs whether it fails to invent itself relevant to 21st century audiences. Arts Council England must sustain its eye on the colossal picture.
Opera receives just under a fifth of the Arts Councils investment in our national portfolio of organisations. Some say that’s too generous, and especially when it delivers between 3% and 4% of live audiences in theatres. Many opera companies are responding boldly to this challenge. The Royal Opera House is full every night and has led the way in cinema and colossal screen broadcasts; Birmingham Opera Company is doing wonderful work on a fraction of ENO’s funding to reach recent communities; Opera North combines outreach work with an active concert programme by its orchestra. ENO is waking up to the challenge a little late,although we are fully supportive of its recent leadership.
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Source: theguardian.com