The former head of the English National Opera (ENO) has criticized Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab for describing Angela Rayner as a “champagne socialist” for attending an opera during the railway strikes.
John Berry told the Observer he was “surprised” that the deputy leader of Labor had scoffed at attending a performance of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at Glyndebourne, near Lewes. “It’s incredibly sad and embarrassing. Being attacked for going to an opera is ridiculous,” he said.
Replacing Boris Johnson at the PMQ last week, Raab mocked Rayner’s absence from the RMT picket line: “She was at the Glyndebourne music festival drinking champagne, listening to opera. Champagne socialism has back to the Labor Party “.
Rayner then replied, “My advice to the Deputy Prime Minister is to eliminate snobbery and revise his opera. The Marriage of Figaro is the story of a working-class woman who seizes a privileged but silly villain. “.
Berry was artistic director of ENO between 2005 and 2015, and staged award-winning productions such as Anthony Minghella’s Madam Butterfly and Mike Leigh’s The Pirates of Penzance. He is now working on a production about Luciano Pavarotti through his new company, Scenario Two.
Angela Rayner addresses Dominic Raab during questions from the Prime Minister on June 29, 2022. Photo: UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor / PA
He spoke of his frustration at the fact that elitist attacks on the arts have been revived when opera houses are doing everything possible to reach a new and diverse audience: “In this country we produce works of great quality and worldwide. and we should not be. embarrassed about it and politicians shouldn’t make cheap shots at it, ”he said.
“I’m ashamed that Ms. Rayner is criticized for going to see an opera by one of the great composers, staged by fabulous performers. Without relying on public funding, the Glyndebourne Festival Opera offers work to hundreds of artists autonomous and has an exceptional outreach program.It is incredibly unfortunate that the word elitism begins to re-enter the arts in this way.
“We don’t have that reaction when a MP goes to Wimbledon or a pop event. Why would we have that when a minister goes to an art event?”
He made comparisons with European countries, where “it is a badge of honor to hold an important cultural position within the government.” “European politicians want to be seen at cultural events,” he said.
“When European colleagues watch conversations in the UK about elitism in the arts, they are shocked.”