When a concert becomes a protest.

My piece for the Guardian on last night's Barbican concert, during which Simon Rattle spoke out against the appalling funding cuts to classical music in this country, and conducted Poulenc's Figure humaine with the BBC Singers, and Mahler Seven with the London Symphony Orchestra.

There's a link to his speech in the text

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/24/bbc-singers-lso-review-music-and-words-of-power-as-rattle-protests-vandalism-of-uks-musical-life

@classicalmusic #SimonRattle #Poulenc #Mahler #BBCSIngers

Very happy to see this. Choral singing is so beautiful! #choir #BBCSingers
BBC suspends proposed closure of the BBC Singers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65063238

“In a world awash with soap operas, I find it hard to believe that #EastEnders needs 4 episodes each week. Perhaps the #BBC could consider axing one episode a week so that they could continue funding the excellent #BBCSingers.” Letters.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/17/classical-music-must-be-spared-the-bbc-axe

If anyone needed to be convinced about the #BBCSingers’ superb skill, virtuosity & musicianship, listen to this performance. Heaven forbid that they sang this Requiem for themselves on the eve of their centenary. #SaveBBCSingers ⁦‪
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001jtmv?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Music needs the #BBC Singers!

Stop the planned closure of the #BBCSingers

Please, sign the petition with me: https://chng.it/BShBTnm8 via change.org

"The BBC’s timing is as calculated as its strategy is callous: ensembles struggling to recover from the pandemic, exhausted from keeping the show on the road throughout, three of the ensembles without a director and all contractually gagged. There is not one single champion for classical music left at the BBC in any position of power or influence. Herod has been left minding the creche"

#BBC #BBCSingers #ClassicalMusic #BBCOrchestras

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/14/classical-music-bbc-orchestras-singers

RT @tommyrpearson
This letter from the co-directors of @BBCSingers to BBC is absolutely extraordinary: an angry attack on certain (named) execs and BBC bosses for a total failure in planning, professionalism and simple human decency. Huge. #bbc #BBCSingers

https://slippedisc.com/2023/03/leaked-letter-a-toxic-culture-of-fear-and-paranoia-at-the-bbc-from-the-d-g-down/

#artsfunding #bbc #bbcsingers
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/13/bbc-chief-draws-ire-of-700-composers-with-devastating-plan-to-axe-choir?

In a few days, the #BBC have managed to generate controversies over the #BBCSingers and their #classical #orchestras, Gary #Lineker, David #Attenborough and Nadine #Dorris. All they have to do now is shut down #RadioOne and they will have upset their entire audience
#ResignTimDavie

#BBC conductors write to the Director General, Tim Davie, over scrapping the #BBCSingers and other cuts to #classical music

As if the #GaryLineker & #BBCSingers rows were not enough for one week, the #BBC adds this to its catalogue of unforced errors. #DavidAttenborough’s campaign to protect the natural environment should be headlined, not sidelined.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/10/david-attenborough-bbc-wild-isles-episode-rightwing-backlash-fears

Protests from influential musicians continue. The decision to disband this excellent professional choir makes no sense. #BBCSingers
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/09/conductors-condemn-shortsighted-plans-to-disband-bbc-singers

Good on Petroc Trelawney weighing in on his #BBBRadio3 breakfast programme just now on the crass decision by the #BBC philistine top brass to axe the #BBCSingers.

#ClassicalMusic #PetrocTrelawney

#classicalmusic #bbc #bbcsingers #artsfunding
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/09/axing-bbc-singers-vandalism-comment-brindley-sherratt?

#classicalmusic #bbcsingers #bbc #artsfunding
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f501baa0-bdc9-11ed-b52d-512231a0c9aa?

RT @tmdtapodcast
‘Things are changing’

How often do we hear that, and yet the past year has seen persistent cuts and loss of jobs, security for freelancers and regard for musicians’ well-being
#falsereality #bbcsingers @BBCSingers @E_N_O @BrittenSinfonia @glyndebourne

It’s not the excellent #BBCRadio3 team’s fault that the #BBCSingers are to be disbanded. Managers are themselves suffering in the hostile environment this Government and its immediate predecessors have created for arts funding. But I confess it will be with a heavier heart that I’ll be tuning in to Petroc Trelawny, Tom Mckinney & Donald Macleod tomorrow morning.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/07/bbc-singers-choir-to-close-as-part-of-corporations-major-review-of-classical-music

"Musicians accused the BBC of “cultural vandalism” as the broadcaster axed the century-old BBC Singers and announced deep cuts to its orchestras.

The “devastating” measures mean that the internationally-renowned BBC Singers, Britain’s only full-time professional chamber choir, will be disbanded, at a cost of 20 jobs, with the BBC’s three English orchestras also facing redundancies of 20 per cent"

Tory philistines now run the #BBC.

#ClassicalMusic #BBCSingers

https://inews.co.uk/news/bbc-cultural-vandalism-singers-axed-orchestras-cut-2193349

https://chng.it/WmxQxSG95k

The #BBCSingers are being shut down by the 🇬🇧 government. Please sign this petition to keep them! We need more culture, not less.