Davie accused of ‘culture of fear’ by sacked choir staff

TIM DAVIE has been accused of overseeing a toxic culture of “fear and paranoia” by the directors of an axed BBC choir.

Corporation executives shut down the BBC Singers last week after almost 100 years as part of a sweeping round of “devastating” cuts to the broadcaster’s three English orchestras.

In a letter addressed to Richard Sharp, the BBC chairman, the choir’s producer and choral manager claimed only one executive has ever heard the group perform at the Proms before a decision was made to shut it down.

Jonathan Manners and Rob Johnston, co-authors of the leaked letter, alleged that a “recurring narrative of toxic culture now exists at the BBC, reflected in the working environment from the director-general [Mr Davie] downwards”.

The letter, first published by Slipped Disc, a classical music news website, adds: “A culture of fear and paranoia has been created as seismic decisions on the corporation’s future are taken at speed without any proper analysis or meaningful consultation.”

A meeting between the choir’s producers and Lorna Clarke, the director of BBC music, over the ensemble’s future also left Simon Webb, the BBC’S head of orchestras and choirs “weeping”, the letter claims.

At the time, Mr Webb had called it a “very painful decision to close the choir” which will result in the loss of 20 equivalent full-time posts.

The salary bill of the corporation’s orchestras – the BBC Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra – has been cut by 20 per cent.

A BBC spokesman said: “We know this is a hugely difficult time for everyone. We’ll continue to do all we can to support those affected.”