Don't rely on the wealthy to fund arts, warns opera star

One of Britain's top opera singers has warned of the dangers of following the Americans by relying on the rich to fund the arts.

Sir John Tomlinson, who tonight opens in Wagner's Parsifal at English National Opera, said the United States ended up with less imaginative productions than state funding encourages in Europe or even in Britain, where the money comes from both sources.

"In America, sponsorship by private money alters the type of production. They tend to be more conservative and come with strings attached," he said.

Sir John said many things had improved since he made his opera debut, at the ENO, in 1974 although not everything. He criticised the "celebrity culture" where some singers pulled out of engagements at the last minute. "It's not a crime to pull out if you have good reason," he said. "But it does a disservice to us as artists if done casually because we're discredited in the eyes of the public."

Sir John is starring in the revival of Nikolaus Lehnhoff's production which was first performed at ENO in 1999.

There are eight performances until March 12.