Post-Brexit red tape puts classical music industry under threat, top soprano warns

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A top soprano has warned Britain risks losing its entire classical music industry due to post-Brexit red tape blocking UK artists from touring in the EU. Rachel Nicholls said artists are in a ‘hideous position’ since Brexit And, in a powerful intervention, English soprano Rachel Nicholls warned that “unless we are very careful, we are going to lose our entire classical music industry in this country”. We need action now and this government should be taking its cue from the vital and vibrant industries of this country.” Sir Keir Starmer has embarked on a reset of the UK’s post-Brexit relations with the EU SNP MP Stephen Gethins said: “Musicians at the start of their careers are especially hit by daft post-Brexit rules that the UK government imposed on them. I hope that in any reset talks, their access to crucial markets will be a high priority for this government.” UK Music told The Independent that extra costs and post-Brexit red tape, along with burdensome rules on the transport of instruments, musical equipment and merchandise, means touring the EU was “simply not viable at the moment for many performers”.