I agree with Darren Henley that to survive a funding slash, opera should become more accessible to more people (Arts Council chief: to survive funding slash, opera should move to car parks and pubs, 14 November). While there is still a place for world-class grand spectacle, opera’s essence and enjoyment can be conveyed with smaller-scale presentations and different ways of presenting them, including on screen.
The dominance of London-based productions excludes them from most of those who do not live in London and for whom an opera ticket at high prices is accompanied by costs of travel, and frequently also accommodation and time away from work.
