Golden age for RTE music pledged

RTE's director of music, Mr Niall Doyle, yesterday announced that he is to initiate a "root and branch review of all structures and practices within the Music Division."

Speaking at the announcement of the National Symphony Orchestra's new subscription season, the first with Alexander Anissimov as principal conductor, he suggested the new partnership would mark "the beginning of an artistic golden age for the NSO and its audiences."

Realising the potential of RTE's orchestras, he said, would require substantial change. A formal consultation process, involving the public as well as professional interests within and outside RTE, would begin before Christmas.

A review team would be established and he expected to have by next summer a fully developed policy statement for the performing groups and a plan for their development.

The assurances of change, he said, were part of RTE's "heightened commitment to its public service remit" and its acknowledgment of its music group's importance as national music assets.

Alexander Anissimov, speaking through an interpreter, expressed his interest in broadening the orchestra's touring programme at home, in Northern Ireland and abroad. He will hold a series of conducting master classes next summer, and hopes to develop an international conducting competition in Dublin.

The 22 concerts of the new season, which opens on November 6th, will include the NSO debut of the mezzo-soprano Ann Murray, and the postponed premiere of Grainne Mulvey's Horrendous Elation.