Arts Council cuts are killing opera in Britain
SIR – As one of many British singers who are indebted to Glyndebourne Touring Opera, I was so sad to read that it will be unable to tour this year (“‘Devastating’ cuts force Glyndebourne to call off tour”, report, January 7).
In the 1970s I toured the country with Glyndebourne, English National Opera and Welsh National Opera. We played to packed houses in Manchester, Birmingham, Southampton, Nottingham, Norwich and Oxford.
It was an invaluable experience for a young singer recently out of music college. The performances were especially well received by audiences who were unable to travel to London or Sussex or Cardiff.
We train so many wonderful young singers in this country; where will they go? Probably to Germany where the arts are still considered an important part of life rather than an unnecessary extravagance.
I profoundly hope that Arts Council England will reconsider its destructive policies.
Felicity Lott Bishopstone, East Sussex
SIR – It is very bad news indeed that Arts Council England cuts have caused Glyndebourne to cancel its tour.
I thought one of Arts Council England’s jobs was to bring music to rural areas. Glyndebourne’s tour to Norwich in November last year was wonderful. Its performances are always well supported and rapturously received.
How can Arts Council England justify this myopic and damaging strategy?
Sue Mason
Long Sutton, Lincolnshire