The English National Opera chorus in the ENO's recent production of Peter Grimes, conducted by Martyn Brabbins at the London Coliseum. Photo by Tom Bowles.
In Sunday’s (10/15) Guardian (U.K.), Imogen Tilden writes, “Martyn Brabbins has announced his resignation as music director of English National Opera. His decision follows the announcement on 13 October of a proposal to axe 19 orchestral positions and employ its remaining musicians on part-time contracts. [Brabbins] said in a statement released on Sunday …‘Severe cuts to its orchestra and chorus from 2024-25 season … would drive a coach and horses through the artistic integrity of the whole of ENO … while also failing to protect our musicians’ livelihoods.’… The 64-year-old Brabbins has been ENO’s music director since October 2016…. In November 2022, the troubled company was … told that its funding was to go completely unless it moved out of London. A huge public outcry, petitions and questions in parliament followed, and in July it was announced … a new business model would allow the company to deliver a substantial opera season every year in London…. ENO expressed surprise and disappointment over the sudden departure of its music director and stated… ‘The ENO has reached a position where we are confident we can maintain a substantial level of operatic work—as opposed to the original reality of total redundancy across the entire company.’ ”
