The Master has tipped me off that Dr. Harry Brunjes, (he’s a real quack) Chairman of English National Opera has stepped down. As an interim appointment, Deputy Chair of ENO Louise Jeffries will oversee the process of seeking a permanent replacement.
Time to hail Harry, who steered the ENO ship through almost impossible waters, most recently Covid, followed by the almost catastrophic Arts Council England 2022 plan to cut its funding to zero.
What is certain is that most Chairs with legs chopped off would have collapsed. Not Harry. He led his Board and team into battle. Eventually ENO was thrown a lifeline of £24m – on condition it shifted to Manchester, which came as surprising news to Opera North, based in nearby Leeds.
Time for congratulations on a watch that brought us La bohème in a car park (not any old, Alexandra Palace) and the ENO Breathe initiative, teaching Covid sufferers operatic breathing tricks. Plus many fine onstage productions.
Harry and his wife, Jacquie will not rest on their laurels. Their music hall genes saw them singing at the Met – The Metropolitan Opera Club – the Master’s New York second home. Maybe main stage next. They were made Honorary Members!
Then there is his show Dial Medicine for Murder, comparing the grisly careers of notorious patient killers, Dr. Bodkin Adams and Harold Shipman.
Now that Harry has passed on the torch at ENO surely the cry will go up elsewhere, ‘Is there a doctor in the house?’
