Opera’s grand Dame hits out at Wagner Society in row over funds

ONE of Britain’s most distinguished singers has accused fellow devotees of Richard Wagner of attempts to undermine her position.

Dame Gwyneth Jones has spoken out for the first time about the longrunning feud which has riven the Wag- ner Society, of which she has been president for nearly three decades.

In the latest skirmish, revealed last week by The Sunday Telegraph, the society found itself at odds over a decision to cancel a masterclass to have been held by the soprano.

The society’s committee took the decision to cancel the masterclass after last year’s event ran over budget. But Dame Gwyneth has now hit back, disputing the circumstances surrounding its cancellation and suggesting the decision appeared to be part of a wider agenda against her.

The singer survived an attempted coup in 2014 after fighting off accusations that she had become “dictatorial”. She said: “Given my long-standing support of the Wagner Society over the last 28 years, I am frankly surprised and dismayed that certain committee members should continue to conduct themselves in this way.”

In a surprise move, the Wagner Society’s committee decided it could no longer justify staging the masterclass following last year’s loss-making event.

However, Dame Gwyneth pointed out that the majority of recent events staged by the society failed to break even.

Richard Miles, chairman of the Wagner Society committee, said: “The committee does not recognise the version of events put forward. As far as the committee is concerned there is no ‘agenda’ against our much-revered honorary president. We are a body of trustees who are under the unglamorous fiduciary obligation to act in the interests of our membership, which we discharge diligently and professionally. This includes safeguarding the society’s finances.”