Musicians to protest ‘raw deal’ at opera festival

A GROUP of Irish musicians are set to protest tonight outside the opening of one of the country’s most successful international opera festivals by a foreign orchestra.

Members of the Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) and SIPTU's Irish Actors' Equity group plan to protest outside the Theatre Royal in Wexford for the opening of the Wexford Festival Opera.

MUI secretary John Swift said members are concerned that the Belarussian Orchestra, which is contracted to play for the festival, will be asked to work for terms and conditions below the established level and standards accepted across the European Union.