Gubbay rejected by Royal Opera

The classical music promoter Raymond Gubbay has had his bid to take over the running of the Royal Opera House rejected after his application, which included stinging criticisms of the way the institution is managed, was turned down.

The classical music promoter Raymond Gubbay has had his bid to take over the running of the Royal Opera House rejected after his application, which included stinging criticisms of the way the institution is managed, was turned down.

Mr Gubbay has written to the ROH chairman, Sir Colin Southgate, complaining that he was not even interviewed for the post of executive director. In his letter, Mr Gubbay, speaking on behalf of his company, says: "We can only assume that the Board has its own pre-determined agenda for the appointment and that it already has in mind somebody who is prepared to work as a toady to the chairman, continuing the 19th century tradition of paternalistic, clubbie arrogance into the 21st century."

The ROH's headhunters,AT Kearney, said the Opera House's search panel felt it "inappropriate for a company to run the Opera House". But if Mr Gubbay wished to apply in a personal capacity the application would be considered.