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.

A spokesperson for the festival said every effort was made to reach agreement with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (NSOI). She added it is hoped there will be greater Irish content next year.

However, the musicians' union says Irish artists are getting a raw deal. The Wexford Festival Opera receives substantial public funding through the Arts Council for hosting the prestigious event, yet for the third successive year, the orchestra and chorus will not have any Irish musicians from Ireland or countries within the EU, it added.

"The MUI is appalled that the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment see fit to disregard their own work permit requirements to allow a Belarussian orchestra to play for the festival. In so doing they are depriving Irish-based musicians of substantial performing opportunities," said Mr Swift.

"The festival has received over €2 million of Irish tax- payers' money by way of grants from the Arts Council since 2001 this year alone they got €736,000 yet Irish-based musicians are excluded from the event.

"We have no dispute with the musicians or the choir from Belarus. All we want is for Irish-based musicians to be given a chance to perform at this very prestigious event," he added.

A spokesperson for Wexford Festival Opera said: "The festival regrets that negotiations with RTÉ concerning the engagement of the NSOI broke down and has made every effort to reach agreement with them on terms which can be afforded.

"These efforts have continued in recent months and weeks and will continue in the hope that the NSOI can be engaged for the 2004 festival."

The festival brings thousands to Wexford annually.