English National Opera Staff Member Apologizes for Booing Music Director

By Ben Mattison
June 9, 2005

Ian McKay, director of marketing at the English National Opera, has issued an apology for booing at outgoing music director Paul Daniel's farewell appearance, the London Guardian reports.

McKay's boos at the end of the performance on May 13 were apparently loud enough to be heard over the applause for Daniel, who departed after eight years with the company, and prompted complaints from members of the audience.

In apologizing, McKay explained that he had been angered by comments critical of ENO chairman Martin Smith and artistic director Seán Doran that Daniel had made to the Guardian in April.

"I now realise that my actions were inappropriate and I express my regret to the audience that night if I distracted them from their enjoyment of the performance," he said in a statement.