In today's Sunday Times (London).

   Orchestra pay row hits the dome's big night
   By Nicholas Hellen

   DISCORD is threatening Labour's musical celebration at the Millennium
   Dome.  One of Britain's most heavily subsidised classical orchestras
   is refusing to perform at the opening night party.

   The promoters have described the millennium eve party as the "hottest
   ticket on the planet".  But musicians in the orchestra of the English
   National Opera (ENO), which is supposed to provide most of the live
   music on the big night, are furious about a "derisory" pay offer.

   The dispute undermines Labour's carefully cultivated image as a friend
   of the arts.  The players protest that they are being asked to perform
   "on the cheap" at union minimum rates.  The party, to be attended by
   the Queen, is supposed to promote Britain to a predicted worldwide
   television audience of two billion people.

   A confidential plan, disclosed to The Sunday Times, reveals that the
   ENO was to play a classical medley, including works by the British
   composers Purcell, Elgar and Britten, from 11pm.  After the Queen's
   arrival at 11.30pm, it would be joined by Jools Holland and his band.

   A premiere of Britain's official millennium music, by John Tavener,
   who wrote some of the music for the funeral of Diana, Princess of
   Wales, will lead to the final countdown.  At 12.05am the entertainment
   is due to be resumed for a further 25 minutes, with the extra backing
   of carnival performers and an amateur choir of 1,000 from around the
   country.

   This weekend members of the ENO orchestra defended their refusal
   to play.  At the deadline for acceptances, only 32 of the 88-strong
   orchestra had signed up.  It is thought that they include one cellist
   and one horn player, but no percussionists or principal violinists.

   The musicians will be paid 960 at a time when other workers, such as
   taxi-drivers, will be looking forward to earning double that.  One
   musician said: "The fee may sound a lot, but it includes three days
   of rehearsals and handing over the earnings from future CD and global
   television rights.  There is absolutely no bonus for playing on the
   one night when everybody wants to be with their friends and family.

   "We have to arrive at 3pm on New Year's Eve for the dress rehearsal
   and, because of security, we are not allowed to move from the dome
   until after midnight.  We have been barred from driving there and we
   are not being offered taxis.  Do they expect us to manhandle our
   instruments back on public transport?

   "A fortune of 100m in public funds is being spent on supporting
   amateur events around the country, yet we are told that there is not
   enough money left to pay a proper fee to world-class professsionals.
   We are victims of Labour's anti-elitism."

   It will be personally embarrassing for Paul Daniel, the respected
   artistic director of ENO, who is also joint music director at the
   dome, along with Holland.

   An ENO spokesman said a settlement remained possible: "The deal has
   not yet been concluded, on the grounds that the fee offered was the
   minimum laid down."

   The quarrel threatens to grow into a wider dispute about the paucity
   of live music in the dome.

   The New Millennium Experience company will meet Musicians' Union
   officials on Tuesday, after a protest to Chris Smith, the culture
   secretary.  Even music composed for the floor show in the arena by
   Peter Gabriel, the experimental pop musician, has been pre-recorded.

   Guests may be tempted to desert the dome for an outdoor concert in
   the grounds of the nearby National Maritime Museum.  It will feature
   pop stars and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Tony Duggan,  England.