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 | | From: | Jackie Mulheron | | Subject: | Arts council is 'bringing Scottish Opera to its knees' | | Date: | Sat, 22 Jan 2005 14:33:06 -0000 |
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 | http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=70522005
Thu 20 Jan 2005
Arts council is 'bringing Scottish Opera to its knees'
TIM CORNWELL
ARTS CORRESPONDENT
SCOTTISH Opera's artistic director has become the latest top figure to
publicly accuse the Scottish Arts Council of sabotaging the company.
Sir Richard Armstrong accused James Boyle, the council's former chairman,
and its music director, Nod Knowles, of "bringing the company to its knees".
He blamed their behind-the-scenes "politicking" for a deal that pushed
through major job cuts at the opera, particularly in its chorus.
The company is to end full-scale opera productions for a year from June,
when Sir Richard steps down after conducting The Knot Garden, in an effort
to balance its books.
His comments closely echoed the attack made last year by the composer James
MacMillan, who called for Mr Boyle to be sacked from his post as chairman of
the cultural commission, and for Mr Knowles to resign.
The Scottish Executive was a prominent partner in the opera deal. But the
arts council is now being singled out for blame.
Late last year the opera's new chairman, William Taylor, also accused the
Scottish Arts Council of proposing a financial plan that would destroy the
opera, though he said he wanted to rebuild trust.
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