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| ENO artistic director John Berry to step down | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| John Berry, artistic director of the English National Opera (ENO), is to leave the company after 20 years. | John Berry, artistic director of the English National Opera (ENO), is to leave the company after 20 years. |
| In a statement, he said his work was "now done" and that it "feels right to leave". | |
| He said he was looking forward "to remaining involved with ENO... as an audience member and supporter." | He said he was looking forward "to remaining involved with ENO... as an audience member and supporter." |
| Berry's departure follows a turbulent period for the company during which it was placed "under special funding arrangements" by the Arts Council. | Berry's departure follows a turbulent period for the company during which it was placed "under special funding arrangements" by the Arts Council. |
| ENO's acting chairman, Harry Brunjes, said his contribution had been "phenomenal" and that the company had been "fortunate to have John's insight and capability". | |
| "He has helped build ENO a UK-wide and international reputation for excellent dramatic opera... [and] driven the use of international collaborations." | |
| Berry, who was made a CBE last year, joined ENO in 1995 as casting director before taking the position of director of opera planning. | |
| He became the company's artistic director in 2005 and has presided over eight seasons of productions at its London Coliseum base. | |
| Its most recent season has seen a production of Sweeney Todd starring Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson and a Mike Leigh-directed revival of The Pirates of Penzance. | |
| Berry said it felt "right to leave at the end of a hugely successful season both from an artistic perspective and in terms of audience numbers". | |
| Yet his final season followed a period of unrest, during which it was revealed that the company's outgoing chairman, Martyn Rose, had called for Berry to step down from his post. | |
| Earlier this year, ENO was told by Arts Council England to improve its business model or face funding cuts. | |
| The council said it would review the ENO's finances over the next two years and "set rigorous milestones" for progress. | |
| In a statement, Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, said Berry had "demonstrated a strong commitment to keeping opera at the cutting edge" during his tenure. | |
| He said the council wished Berry "all the best for the future" and that it would "continue to work closely with ENO as they develop their business model." |