Page 636 - Liverpool Philharmonic 22-23 Season Coverage Book

The English National Opera does Eurovision during the launch of Eurovision
EuroFestival (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
The leader of Liverpool Council and Liverpool City Region’s Metro Mayor have
called for clarity over the bidding process as the area seeks to house the English
National Opera (ENO).

It was confirmed earlier this year owing to budget cuts, the 92-year-old opera
would be forced to relocate from London. The decision was taken in a bid to
diversify culture spending outside of the capital.

In May, Stuart Murphy, chief executive of the ENO, told the Guardian Liverpool
was a “very strong contender” to become the new permanent home of the
opera and the city was subsequently shortlisted for the honour. Liverpool is
vying against Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Bristol.
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Now, Cllr Liam Robinson - the new man in charge at the Cunard Building - and
his Labour colleague Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram have written to arts
minister Lord Parkinson to ensure the bidding process is “as fair and transparent

as possible.” The two men said in their letter wherever the ENO next calls home,
“it should be about choosing the place that offers the best fit for the opera to
thrive with a sustainable future – and not simply the place that offers the biggest
short-term financial incentives.”
It said: “Naturally, we believe that the Liverpool City Region has set out the
strongest case that is viable and sustainable and will allow the company to
flourish as it enters its next chapter. As a UNESCO City of Music playing home of
the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Liverpool Institute of
Performing Arts, and with a musical heritage unmatched by anywhere else in the
UK, our city goes hand in glove with the aims of the ENO and its drive to take
opera to the masses.”

The Labour politicians said despite a “strong regional interest” the 1.6m people
in the Liverpool City Region were not served by an opera. They said the city
region had a “track record” of doing the music sector proud, citing last month’s
hosting of Eurovision which included a collaboration with the ENO.

It added: “Its relocation would create real substance and momentum to that
legacy and support our vision for the region for the next twenty years – including
in the development of the Liverpool Music project, a multi-million pound music,
arts and cultural cluster.”

Mr Rotheram and Cllr Robinson said the bidding process so far had been
“something of a confusing one,” with several interested parties taking part in
discussions, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the