RTE’S orchestras hit us to the tune of €100m
€45k a day on average is spent on classical music over six years
THE €100million cost of running RTÉ’s orchestras is hitting a bum note with politicians, leading to calls for the national broadcaster to be more prudent.
The news that €45k was spent a day on the orchestras – or €100million over six years – was labelled ‘shocking’ by Communications committee member John O’Mahony.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, the Mayo TD said: ‘It’s a shocking figure. This is another reason costs at RTÉ need to be looked at.’
RTÉ’s orchestral costs rack up a bill to the tune of €1.4million a month. The figures obtained under a freedom of information request reveal the national broadcaster took in just €15million from its five orchestras and choirs in the six years from 2006 and 2011.
Mr O’Mahony said: ‘The discrepancies are huge. Why is the income so low compared to the output? RTÉ have a big issue here and they have to deal with it. The orchestra should be preserved, but it seems to be an inordinate cost.
‘It will be high on the agenda when the committee comes back into ses-
‘RTÉ have a big issue here’
sion in autumn. We’ll look forward to hearing RTÉ’s side of the story.’
The Irish Daily Star reported that the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Concert Orchestra make up the bulk of the costs.
The two orchestras play an average of 180 concerts a year with ticket prices ranging from €10 to €35.
The multi-million bill includes the cost of running the station’s Philharmonic Choir, Vanbrugh Quartet and children’s choir Cór na nÓg.
The Star said RTÉ would not reveal how much its musicians are paid, but said a source revealed salaries range from €30,000 to €75,000 with each player expected to supply their own instrument.
The amount of money spent maintaining the orchestras and choirs in 2012 has not been revealed, but is expected to be released in the publication of RTÉ’s annual report in the coming weeks.
A spokesman for RTÉ told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘RTÉ spent a net €12.7million in 2011 on maintaining two orchestras, two choirs and a quartet. These costs include all venue hire costs, insurance, over- heads, transport, copyright liabilities and contract hire of conductors and guest soloists and performers. Costs have reduced year on year and in 2011 were €2,684,000 less than in 2008. The 140 performers of RTÉ Philharmonic choir and 65 members of children’s choir RTÉ Cór na nÓg give of their time on a voluntary basis.’ The spokesman continued: ‘ The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra was reduced from 89 musicians to 81 musicians in 2012 reducing further to 80 in June 2013.
‘In addition they have lost person- nel in the areas of education, regional development, project management, administration, HR and marketing. RTÉ orchestras, quartets and choirs have also had s ignificant cut backs in direct programme cost budgets. RTÉ NSO now has a strength of 80 and it is therefore at the limits to which it can be cut.’
The spokesman added: ‘ RTÉ orchestras, quartets and choirs present over 180 concerts annually and over 70 educational related activities.
‘Therefore both in broadcast output and in live performance, they make a valued contribution to Irish culture and society and every effort is made to ensure that maximum value and audience access and enjoyment is derived from their work.’
But People Before Profit TD Joan Collins told the Mail: ‘There needs to be more accountability here, RTÉ could absolutely look at cutting their costs. ‘I wouldn’t be calling for the disbandment of the orchestras but €100million does seem to be quite excessive.’