'Arts education is essential – yet on both sides of the Atlantic, the humanities and critical thinking are under attack.'

For The Guardian, @[email protected] writes about our connected struggles, about student-staff solidarity, about attacks on the arts and humanities, and about why “The Goldsmiths Crisis” is a crisis for us all - but it’s not a done deal.
theguardian.com/education/2024…

A century before Maria Callas caught the world’s attention, there was another singer wielding immense power both on and off stage, Giuditta Pasta. George Hall tells the story of the Italian soprano

classical-music.com/features/artis…

Anyone wanting to question the appalling Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru | Arts Council of Wales decision to cut funding to Welsh National Opera & MidWalesOpera, here’s our chance… I’d like to know why “excellence” appears not to be one of its strategic priorities now. #SaveWNO Lesley Griffiths Rhianon Passmore MS Rebecca Gould

Creative arts courses at English universities face funding cut. As the saying goes, they know the price of everything and the value of nothing. theguardian.com/education/2024…

My first Carmen Royal Opera House was Michael Geliot’s production launched in 1973. Tonight's new staging by Damiano Michieletto is the fourth since then of a popular masterpiece that is hard to get right in the theatre. Will it succeed? I’ll be reviewing for The Stage.

Burning it all down.
What a legacy they will leave behind.
theguardian.com/education/2024…

Thoughtful and perceptive as ever!

Unforgettable and personally lovable as well as hugely knowledgeable.

Sad news of the death of Michael Tanner, aged 89. We’ve lost a wonderful critic, a distinguished philosophical scholar, and an extremely nice man.

We are appalled that the Government is once again singling out arts & creative subjects for funding cuts in Higher Education.

Many courses have already closed and a growing number are at risk.

This attack on the arts must stop now.

#ArtsEducationMatters
theguardian.com/education/2024…

Brilliant and necessary analysis which needs to be heeded by those with the power to make a difference. Or our entire musical heritage is in serious peril.

“Anglican choral music remains one of the greatest expressions of divine perfection that humanity has been able to create,” argues Emily Fielder. We neglect it at our peril thecritic.co.uk/disbanding-st-…

.Welsh National Opera’s orchestra is facing a 'devastating' reduction in its contracts, which could amount to a 15% pay cut for musicians👇 thestage.co.uk/news/welsh-nat…

Gavin Higgins Arts Council England English National Opera Not to mention Vienna, population 2m, three opera houses

🧵 As of today, London, a city of nearly 9m ppl, with over 30m visitors each year, has only one full time opera house. Berlin a city of 3.5m ppl has 3 opera houses. Paris a city of 2.1m ppl has 3 opera houses - happy Easter Arts Council England English National Opera 💔…(1)

What a dark day for opera in the UK. As ENO gives its last performance before the whole company is fired and re-hired as a seasonal company, it is announced that WNO is reducing orchestra contracts. Presumably other departments will also be cut. Arts Council England is a disgrace. 😡😢

Last ever curtain call of this incarnation of English National Opera before the orchestra etc is disbanded. Coincidentally my 2 boys’ (8 & 11) first ever opera (Magic Flute). They were enthralled and thrilled. Those who have let this happen to ENO should be ashamed.

How relevant is Mozart’s Magic Flute? I can think of no better work - especially in Simon McBurney’s all-encompassing production - that embodies the varied emotions the English National Opera orchestra, chorus and music staff are experiencing today. Their pride in their work is deeply humbling.

Spare a thought for chorus, orchestra & music staff at English National Opera, for whom a new era begins today, one of reduced contracts & huge uncertainty, both professional & financial. ENO won’t be seen at the Coliseum until next season, depriving London of great opera thanks to Arts Council England