Poisoned ENO is run by the wrong people, says top tenor

Stuart Skelton, who sang alongside Heidi Melton in Tristan and Isolde at the ENO, has criticised its boss
Stuart Skelton, who sang alongside Heidi Melton in Tristan and Isolde at the ENO, has criticised its boss
ALASTAIR MUIR/REX FEATURES

The artistic director of English National Opera is the “wrong man for the job” and its chief executive is out of her depth, according to one of its most prominent performers.

Audiences at the troubled organisation are “bleeding away” because of its policies, said Stuart Skelton, one of the world’s leading male opera singers.

Cressida Pollock, chief executive, was charged with reviving the ENO’s financial fortunes
Cressida Pollock, chief executive, was charged with reviving the ENO’s financial fortunes
EVENING STANDARD/EYEVINE

Skelton, who worked with the ENO for ten years until last year’s production of Tristan and Isolde, said that the organisation had the wrong people in the highest positions.

He described Daniel Kramer, the artistic director, as personable and engaging but said that he “should not be running that company”.

“Not only is he not experienced, but the only times he’s been in something genuinely large-scale it fell over,” Skelton,