future. Some of the players had been engaged in freelance contracts year after year. The players who were not engaged for the upcoming season were mid-to-late-career musicians, when sent the letter. The freelance artists had hoped to return to work in the post-pandemic period. Zhang Zhang, a violinist with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, asked if firing people because of their skin color is racism. Zoe Strimpel wrote that ETO's "policy race-based contracting" was a "debacle." ETO indicated its policy was based on guidance from its main funder, Arts Council England. References Notes Sources Thicknesse, Robert, "Company Profile: English Touring Opera", Opera Now'' (London), October 2012 External links English Touring Opera website British opera companies Musical groups established in 1979 Touring opera companies