british orchestras conference descends on liverpool

By Catherine Jones on Jan 18, 12 03:48 PM

"If someone threw a bomb in this room that would wipe out the whole of British musical culture," (semi) joked someone who will remain nameless sitting near me at the Association of British Orchestras conference today.
I popped in to the welcome session at the Marriott City Centre where representatives from all the UK's major orchestras have gathered for three days of discussion and debate about the state of the (classical) nation.

The opening speakers included RLPO chief Michael Eakin, Classic FM boss (and honorary Scouser) Darren Henley, Councillor Wendy Simon and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey.
There were warm words for Liverpool, which is hosting the ABO for the first time since 2003 - the year, incidently, we were awarded Capital of Culture - and particularly for the RLPO and Faith Primary School's In Harmony project.
And as for the state of the classical nation? Well Darren Henley, who has just completed independent reviews of both music education and cultural education for the government, declared: "I think we are in a golden age in classical music in this country."
The delegates will get a taste of that when they attend tomorrow night's performance of Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony at the Philharmonic Hall. It's the piece Leningrad-born Vasily Petrenko conducted to acclaim in New Zealand and at Sydney Opera House last summer.
Oh, and by the way, there was a vote of confidence from Tory culture minister Ed for Labour-led Liverpool city council's "understanding of the intrinsic impact of culture" on the whole community.