Press releases say ENO's move to Manchester will provide activities that contribute to wellbeing and public health. But Alexandra Wilson thinks it's not opera's job to do such social work.
English National Opera’s move to Manchester has finally been confirmed. The company had its funding cut by Arts Council England last year and was told to pack its bags and leave London if it wanted to receive future support, prompting an uproar from musicians, MPs and opera lovers. A number of potential new bases were considered, but ENO now follows in the footsteps of the BBC and the Civil Service in transplanting a large part of its operations to Greater Manchester, the place mooted by ACE in the first place.
Mayor Andy Burnham, who initially told ENO “If you can’t come willingly, don’t come at all”, is now pleased about the news. So too, for what it’s worth, is agent-provocateur barrister Jolyon Maugham, who declared it “bananas” on Twitter/X that ENO and the Royal Opera are based at London theatres five minutes’ walk apart...Keep reading on The Critic.
English National Opera’s move to Manchester has finally been confirmed. The company had its funding cut by Arts Council England last year and was told to pack its bags and leave London if it wanted to receive future support, prompting an uproar from musicians, MPs and opera lovers. A number of potential new bases were considered, but ENO now follows in the footsteps of the BBC and the Civil Service in transplanting a large part of its operations to Greater Manchester, the place mooted by ACE in the first place.
Mayor Andy Burnham, who initially told ENO “If you can’t come willingly, don’t come at all”, is now pleased about the news. So too, for what it’s worth, is agent-provocateur barrister Jolyon Maugham, who declared it “bananas” on Twitter/X that ENO and the Royal Opera are based at London theatres five minutes’ walk apart...Keep reading on The Critic.