A chorus of leading classical and choral music figures have added their signatures to a letter of protest to be delivered to BBC management in the wake of this week’s announcement of deep cuts to the broadcaster’s five orchestras and the disbanding of the BBC Singers, the UK’s only professional chamber choral ensemble.
Among the signatories are a number of high profile leaders including Ryan Bancroft (Principal Conductor, BBC National Orchestra of Wales), Sakari Oramo (Chief Conductor, BBC Symphony Orchestra), Dalia Stasevska, Principal Guest Conductor, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor Ryan Wigglesworth.
The letter begins:
“We, the undersigned, read with disbelief Tuesday’s press release outlining the BBC’s plans to disband the BBC Singers and instigate 20% cuts across the English BBC orchestras.
The worldwide renown of the BBC Singers – the UK’s only full-time, professional choir – has been built over 99 years of ground-breaking, innovative work. To kill it off takes no time at all, but the ramifications of such short-sightedness are incalculable. This decision, if carried out, will be devastating not just to the choir’s present, uniquely skilled members, but also to future generations of singers.
And even a quick glance at the list of world...
Appalling behaviour by BBC and all the worse for being the year before the 100th anniversary. My mother sang with the BBC Choral Society (now BBC Singers)in the 1950’s, one of the highlights of her life….