Conductors publish open letter in protest at cuts ‘killing off’ opera

An open letter published today and signed by three of the UK’s foremost conductors warns of the ‘demise’ of the English National Opera (ENO) if proposed staffing cuts are implemented. Signed by two former ENO music directors, Edward Gardner and Sir Mark Elder, and music director of the Royal Opera House Sir Antonio Pappano, the letter calls for a reconsideration of funding plans for the ENO.

Published in The Times, the open letter follows a tense week for the London-based opera company, as music director Martyn Brabbins announced his resignation from the role in protest against the company’s decision to axe 19 posts within its orchestra and employ its remaining musicians on part-time contracts, losing 40% of their pay.

In the letter, Elder, Pappano and Gardner said: We should all be clear: if these plans go through, it will lead to the demise of this great company. An opera company is defined by its chorus and orchestra - their passion, expertise and knowledge. ENO is among the best in the world. These groups are built over decades of shared experience. They have collective skills that cannot be resurrected… Under these plans the company will be an empty shell of its former self.’

The three conductors also expressed their concern that the proposed cuts will ‘put a stranglehold on the artistic future of the company’, making large-scale productions impossible and forcing chorus and orchestra members to find alternative employment. You can read the full letter here.

The proposed job cuts are a result of financial challenges facing ENO including decreased funding from Arts Council England (ACE) for ENO since 2014, and the requirement for the company to pay back its Covid recovery loan next year. The changes were agreed in conversation with ACE. The letter closes with a call for ACE to be ‘honest about the effect of these cuts’ and ‘reconsider their support’.