The Northern Ballet Sinfonia musicians have been working for the company for years, in some cases decades. Image credit: Jonathan Stewart.
Northern Ballet announced on 17 October that they are ‘beginning to explore a strategic partnership between Northern Ballet and Opera North which would include the Orchestra of Opera North performing alongside the dancers of Northern Ballet.’
This follows them replacing their long-standing orchestra, the Northern Ballet Sinfonia, with a recording for their current tour of Romeo and Juliet.
Fighting to save the jobs of musicians playing with Northern Ballet Sinfonia
While we have been campaigning to Keep Northern Ballet Live, we have very much been fighting to save the jobs of the musicians who have, for a long time, earnt their living playing with Northern Ballet Sinfonia. The new proposal was only shared with the MU moments before it was released online.
Meanwhile, Opera North is conducting an “organisational review” across several departments to create a “leaner, more agile structure”, as reported in Arts Professional today.
In the article, a spokesperson is quoted as saying “These changes will strengthen the company to be ready for the challenges of the future.
“Throughout this challenging period, the company will continue to focus its efforts on reaching communities across the North of England and bringing music and the arts into the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. This is an ongoing process during which we are looking at every department.”
A further shrinking of the opera and ballet sector
The Musicians’ Union is deeply concerned that these announcements represent a further shrinking of the opera and ballet sector, with a direct impact on musicians’ jobs and freelance opportunities.
Naomi Pohl, General Secretary, said “The MU will continue its campaign to save the Northern Ballet Sinfonia. The Sinfonia musicians are still listed on the Northern Ballet website and they have been working for the company for years, in some cases decades. We can’t stand by as work for musicians just disappears.
“This is a sector in crisis. The situation for the Northern Ballet musicians is particularly stark because they are being offered so little work with the company going forward, but we are seeing many examples of work lost or organisations cannibalising each other’s bookings.”
The proposals send a painful message about the viability of a career in music
Morris Stemp, Orchestras and Health & Safety Official, said “The orchestral world is a delicate ecosystem, where having good pools of players available is critical to the success of the larger ensembles or employed orchestras.
“Without a good supply of orchestras who work in this way, you simply won’t even keep the players in the industry as there won’t be enough work to go around. These players have been loyal to the company for so long, being potentially cast aside like this sends such a painful message to everyone about the viability of a career in music.
“It’s true that looking at all options is important so that you can, hand on heart, say you have left no stone unturned, as long as good sense prevails and the wonderful players who form the orchestra of Northern Ballet are retained to produce the quality playing that they are expert in. These proposals are most certainly not a done deal.”
We will not stand by as work for musicians disappears
In their statement, Northern Ballet say they “will work closely with the Musicians’ Union’ as [they] develop this partnership proposal to help ensure [they] can continue to create opportunities by touring new work and revivals across the UK with world-class dancers, production values and live music.”
While we want to see ballet touring with a live orchestra, we will not endorse a proposal which cuts jobs in this way or leads to a further shrinking of a very precarious musical landscape.
We know our members will be angry about this and will continue to do all we can to make the case for more secure jobs, a thriving freelance community, sufficient funding and maximum access for audiences.