Letter: Funding opera
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Performing arts bodies are unusual organisations. The culture and spirit of each organisation is unique and seminal to its artistic integrity and output. The proposal to merge venues for English National Opera, Royal Opera House and Ballet (report, 4 November) seems likely to seriously undermine the independent spirit of each, and is inevitably an incremental step towards merger.
However, great opportunities for economics undoubtedly exist. The challenge facing Sir Richard Eyre in his review must be to find a solution which maintains the companies' independence whilst reducing operating costs. Without evicting ENO from the Coliseum, there is plenty of scope for the central London companies to share resources. For example they could share, inter alia, booking offices, accounts and human resources departments, utility contracts, engineering services, and so on.
There are many ways in which the companies could combine resources to achieve economies, without having to sacrifice their individual character.
MATTHEW EATOUGH
The Cost Reduction Partnership
London W1
Sir: Chris Smith's laudable desire for a "people's opera" (report, 4 November) should in fact be for at least three opera houses in London. They should be partially subsidised by the state, as in Germany, which has over 100 opera houses; Britain has six. Any reduction in the number of London stages would prevent the public from gaining personal access. On a per capita basis, London should have 21 orchestras and 10 opera houses, if compared to the city of Munich.
DENIS VAUGHAN
Executive Director
The Lottery Promotion Company Limited
London WC2
Liberal Democrats
Sir: You say ("Blair's project is simple: squeeze the middle class", 5 November) that the Liberal Democrats cannot develop as an opposition to Tony Blair "without turning their
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments