"It's a disaster, the worst that has ever happened to all the musicians involved and also to many music lovers." Some days after the cancelled European tour of the St. Matthew Passion, this desperate scream of the great Baroque conductor Ton Koopman is more than telling about the danger European music life is facing. What’s happening?
While the US is now stoic about cancellations and cuts in classical music, Europe seemed pretty safe until now because of the subsidy system: but things are changing.
The first signs are there with a dozen of the best ensembles in heavy weather. In the Netherlands we have subsidy cuts for Ton Koopmans famous Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, the contemporary music specialists of ASKO/Schönberg Ensemble, the renowned Netherlands Chamber Choir and my old band Orkest de Volharding (I was their manager until 1993).
The latest news comes from Belgium. I received the following statement on LinkedIn: "Last week, the famous baroque orchestra La Petite Bande got a letter from the government in Belgium with the warning that the Committee that advises the Minister of Arts had given them a negative advice about the new round of subventions" (for 2010-2012). Can you imagine it???? This Committee clearly has NO idea about music, or culture in general. This orchestra is a top-class ensemble, as you know, and one of the most renewing groups in the baroque world (this was one of the critic points..."not renewing enough"...such stupidity!!! Did they ever hear of a Viola da Spalla, for example?! So, as you can feel, I was really upset about it. I think Belgium should be proud even to have this orchestra in its residence. But, like in Holland, governmental 'advice' committees have very strange standards nowadays and seem not to have any background in culture."
I have been googling around for more news on subsidy cuts in Europe but could not find any. Did you?
Serious matters, don’t you think? First signs or the beginning of a structural change?
The big difference with the US situation is that the cuts have nothing to do with the financial crisis. They are the result of shifting opinions about what should be subsidized. I hate the fact that such specialist, great innovators are now under threat. But I also realize that if the subsidy budgets are always used for the established ensembles, there will never be room for the newcomers, for the young musicians with fresh ideas.
In this sense Europe could learn something from the US and the other way around. Europe could add a commercial drive to the artistic one. The save EU haven of subsidy will change anyhow, so let cherish our high artistic standards and at the same time work harder on marketing, on sales, on education and getting new audiences in, especially via the Social Media platforms. And of course in America they could be a bit more careful with their cultural heritage. Changes OK, but please do not let the arts down at the moment that we all need tons of entertainment to stay alive.
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