Amazing what can be done by means of selective quotation. Charlotte Higgins in today’s Guardian has culled a few squibs from the proceedings of the House of Commons committee on culture, media and sport to suggest, without factual foundation, that their report will recommend a cull of orchestral funding.
She begins by inflating into committee policy a casual witticism by chairman John Wittingdale to the effect that Gustav Mahler ‘shouldn’t have written works that require so many musicians’. Other MPs and witnesses are caricatured for holding unfashionable views and Charlotte concludes that we cannot expect a serious report from so frivolous a forum.
As one of those called in evidence by the committee, I found the MPs’ questioning intense, sincere and open-minded. One did not have to agree with many of the views expressed to respect the need for critical analysis of Arts Council England and its recent activities.
There seemed to be general contempt for the ACE’s performance during the present cuts and a genuine dismay at the feeble, fact-poor testimony of its chief executive, Alan Davey. These sentiments are a matter of public record and can be viewed on the committee’s website. They must cause great discomfort to ACE chair Liz Forgan and her chief exec.
Journalists are often put up by to defend public bodies on which they rely for leaks. I doubt this was the case with Charlotte Higgins, an honest and intelligent arts columnist. But I do wonder why she defends an ACE regime that has so wantonly betrayed the arts. The thrust of ACE policy since the cuts were announced has been to defend its own jobs. Arts managers up and down the country have lost confidence in the ACE leadership. Forgan and Davey are walking a wobbly plank.
Rather than cutting symphonic music, I got the impression that the HoC committee was greatly concerned about regional orchestras who will suffer a double hit of ACE and local authority cuts. Expect a tough report on the ACE, and no disparagement of Mahler.
Recent Comments
richard carlisle on Rub your eyes: a Jewish orchestra has been invited to open the new Wagner Museum
Good news-- thanks for bringing it to us Mr. Lebrecht.richard carlisle on Jackie Evancho sings ‘Ave Maria’ on Dancing with the Stars (video)
CJ, The 1958 youtube of Vissi d'arte seems magnificent to me -- the way she soars to her high range...william osborne on Rub your eyes: a Jewish orchestra has been invited to open the new Wagner Museum
The New Jewish Chamber Philharmonic Dresden has undertaken a wonderful initiative to revive the works of Jewish composers whose careers...cabbagejuice on Natalie Dessay – are we losing her?
@La Cieca I don't know if you're talking about me cherry-picking but if it is, I assure you my knowledge...La Cieca on Natalie Dessay – are we losing her?
My issue here is that a writer's pet theory of "how to sing properly" is backed up with cherry-picked data....Sixtus on Finisher of Mahler’s 10th takes Mahler’s former job
From what I've seen of the Mahler 10 sketches, the work is pretty much actually "finished" in that it has...cabbagejuice on Jackie Evancho sings ‘Ave Maria’ on Dancing with the Stars (video)
@richard carlisle I have the Stassinopoulos and the Michael Scott books on Callas. The Greeks during the war did not...Norman Lebrecht on Auditor General attacks financial chaos at the Arts Council
It's an outstanding spin job by the ACE, burying financial incompetence in a flurry of Whitehall cover-ups. Any other org...Kit Baker on Just in: John Cage sells out on the Ruhr
I was lucky enough to see Europeras I & II in the late '80s at the Summerfare festival in Purchase,...cabbagejuice on Natalie Dessay – are we losing her?
I would beg to avoid getting into disputes about Beverly Sills as her fans are as fiercely protective of her...