English National Opera reveals first Manchester plans after relocation row

Even after moving its headquarters, the company will continue to stage annual seasons at its current home, the London Coliseum.

The chorus and orchestra will perform in both London and Manchester, and the company will work with Manchester-based outfits like the Halle Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic, and local freelance musicians.

Musicians’ Union general secretary Naomi Pohl said it was “certainly positive to see the artistic vision coming through in the announcement from ENO and we wish to see them flourish and grow”.

She also welcomed the continued presence at the London Coliseum, and said she would “keep an eye on the impact of ENO’s work in Manchester on companies that already perform with musicians in that space”.

Leeds-based Opera North currently tours to venues including the Lowry.

“Music is a delicate and complex ecosystem,” Pohl added. “Opera and ballet are under particular strain at the present time due to funding pressures and we are fighting to maintain full time jobs and pay.”

Paul Fleming, general secretary of arts union Equity, agreed that new opera productions and engagement programmes in Manchester were welcome, but said “it falls short of a season at the scale audiences deserve”.

“Although the proposed innovative work will reach those who have not previously engaged with opera before, it does not offer the scale of production or stability of engagement that would lead to the protection and creation of secure jobs for the opera workforce,” he said.