THE voices of the chorus from English National Opera (ENO) rang out in London today — not from the stage, but from a protest rally outside the headquarters of Arts Council England.

The Arts Council, on the instructions of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is slashing funding to the arts by £50 million.

It includes cuts which will force the ENO to quit London, axe the budgets of much-loved theatres and other venues, and cut the budgets of some venues outside the capital by 100 per cent – including Oldham’s Coliseum Theatre in Greater Manchester.