Yesterday,
Norman Lebrecht published a blog post entitled:
Scotland will lose an orchestra ‘the morning after independence.’ The text that
follows doesn’t mention a source for this, suggesting he is quoting himself.
Instead it gives a précis of an argument, first raised in January by critic Ken
Walton, that the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra would disband in the event of
a yes vote in the independence referendum. Lebrecht tells us “The BBCSSO is funded from
London...” as if to imply it is funded by London, and then goes on to speculate
about how the, as yet unnamed, new Controller of Radio 3 might make economies
to their budget. He concludes with a reference to “a journalistic view from
Scotland,” which, he says, “does not markedly differ.”
Well
actually it does. It differs quite a lot. The link is to an article by Kate Molleson published in the Guardian on
Saturday, an excellent survey of the issues raised for classical music in
Scotland by the referendum, and far more balanced and informative than either
Lebrecht’s polemic or this one. Molleson cites the SNP’s white paper on the
foundation of a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation, which would “initially be
founded on the staff and assets of BBC Scotland”. The implication is that this
would include the BBC’s Scottish musicians. That’s not explicitly stated, but nor
is it denied.
Molleson
spoke to Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External
Affairs. Hyslop points out that “only two-thirds of the revenue from Scottish
license fees is currently spent on BBC Scotland”, and that therefore “the
future SBS could be more lucrative, and more culturally ambitious, than the
present BBC Scotland.” Exciting talk, especially coming from a cabinet minister
(imagine hearing such statements in Westminster).
Clearly,
there is some uncertainty here, but all the indications are that a fledging SBC
would have both the resources and the motivation to maintain the BBC SSO as a
flagship ensemble for the new corporation. The political climate in Scotland,
as demonstrated by Hyslop herself, is far friendlier to the arts than in
Westminster. And the orchestra itself is in a perfect position to represent the
increasingly dominant nationalist sentiment and pride. It is, as Molleson
notes, one of the finest orchestras in Europe, and it is currently led by
Donald Runnicles, perhaps the best, certainly the best-regarded, Scottish
conductor since Alexander Gibson.
A letter from the
Scottish composer Bill Sweeney appeared in the Herald on Monday making
some very sensible points on this issue. The biggest threat to the BBC SSO, he
says, is the BBC itself, and that “Previous axe-swings have rid [the
corporation] of the BBC Big Band, Scottish Radio, Northern Dance, Midland Light,
Northern Ireland and Training Orchestras without much concern for UK-national
or regional sensibilities.” The letter is followed - same link – by one from veteran broadcaster
John Purser, who recounts depressing details of the BBC’s last try at disbanding
the BBC SSO, in 1987. Scare stories about the end of public broadcasting north
of the border are, says Sweeney “based on the idea that Scots do not have
enough appetite for culture or enough smeddum to preserve and develop the rich
and multifarious artistic landscape that is so evident around us.” He goes on
“I suspect - and hope - that we will see a more positive interpretation of our
cultural prospects expressed this Thursday.”
Right.
Not that you’ll ever read views like these expressed in the (British) national
press, which, presumably to further its own ends, has been deliberately
underestimating the Scots’ smeddum throughout the debate. But the arts are not
under threat, and the BBC SSO is in an excellent position to thrive in an
independent Scotland. As with so many other aspects of the referendum, the
London-based media insists on presenting as a crisis what can, and should, be
seen as an opportunity.
