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Published: 10 May 2007

When philistines are at the juke box, don’t expect Dvorak

ACCUSATIONS that Tony Blair ran a government of philistines – made recently by one of Britain’s leading orchestral composers, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies – are strengthened this week by a similar broadside from the eminent pianist John Lill.
In an exclusive interview with our reporter, after the rehearsals for last night’s (Wednesday) opening concert of the Hampstead and Highgate Festival, Mr Lill made it clear what has gone wrong with Cool Britannia, espoused by Tony Blair since he gained office ten years ago.
He berated the government for cutting funds to orchestras while lavishing money on sport and pop music. It is easy to see what he means.
Isn’t the culture secretary Tessa Jowell patently more interested in the growth of gambling casinos than the encouragement of the real arts?
Some readers may feel incandescent over Mr Lill’s description of pop music as a “cancer”. Others may simply dismiss him as a typical ivory tower high-brow out of touch with the real world.
But it is difficult not to sympathise with those who fear that our culture is becoming more and more individualistic to the point where – as Mr Lill put it – it is encouraging “instant gratification and money making.” Once, Margaret Thatcher was reviled for this very same thing.
Today, say Blair’s critics, New Labour has taken the same road as Mrs Thatcher.
An antidote to this is provided locally by the Hampstead and Highgate Festival which is clearly encouraging local artists.

Green intentions are going awry

PLATITUDES and blue-sky thinking often prove an aphrodisiac for politicians, especially when they have run out of real ideas.
This is exemplified by the extraordinary decision by the council to ban barbecues in open air events unless approved by health and safety officials.
We still do not know which official dreamed up this ridiculous idea. Or whether responsibility falls on the council’s leisure chief Flick Rea. Judging by her remarks (See page 7), she appears to be dodging the issue. Or some might think she is resigned to be the council’s patsy.
Meanwhile, the council is at risk of putting their feet into another quagmire. While it is about to launch a new green initiative (See page 1), it is cutting back on recycling collections on council estates and ordering a green enthusiast that he cannot put up a solar panel on his listed home in West Hampstead.
To make matters worse for the Town Hall, the government announced yesterday (Wednesday) that new electric G-Wiz cars – which Camden has helped promote – are unsafe. Can the council decide where it is going?

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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