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Loss of culture in Nantes: ORCHESTRA choir will be disbanded on June 30th!
The Chœur de l’ONPL will be dissolved in 2026, costing 12 jobs and putting a strain on the cultural landscape. Protest actions planned.
Loss of culture in Nantes: ORCHESTRA choir will be disbanded on June 30th!
The cultural landscape in the Pays de la Loire region is facing a major upheaval: the famous Chœur de l'ONPL, which has existed for over 20 years and includes around 70 volunteer singers, will be disbanded on June 30, 2026. This sad news does not come without reason, as the syndicat mixte de l'Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire made the decision for budgetary reasons. The Chœur, which accounts for no more than 2% of the orchestra's annual budget, has distinguished itself with high standards and professional rehearsals, making its loss particularly painful. Valérie Fayet, who has been at the helm since its inception, never tired of shaping her remarkable vocal identity.
The intention to dissolve did not fall from heaven. It is linked to drastic cuts in subsidies that threaten the entire orchestra activity. So reported France Musique, that the orchestra loses a total of over 1 million euros, which has a fatal impact on the creative work. As a result of these measures, fifty to sixty volunteers will lose the important role they have played at concerts over the years.
Cultural impact and protest
The dissolution of the choir is seen not only as a loss for the orchestra itself, but also for cultural education in the region. Choristers have already planned protest concerts and started a petition to mobilize against this decision. “It is a great loss for our community,” explains Fayet, who emphasizes how central the choir was to social cohesion in the region.
The orchestra's support from the municipalities remains, but many creative projects are still in jeopardy. The experiences of other institutions in the cultural sector show that the current situation is not an isolated case. Also seen in Germany taz.de Cuts in cultural funding that endanger international collaborations and guest performances. Even the political framework is facing uncertain times with regard to artistic freedom in Saxony.
The cultural cuts that arise as a result of city and regional budget issues point to an urgent problem: the importance of art and culture in society is increasingly falling behind. Especially now that the Federal Ministry of Culture has announced that it will increase the budget, it remains to be seen whether regional cultural institutions can benefit from this development.
It remains to be hoped that the protest actions of the choir members and the public interest in this issue will go hand in hand to trigger a rethink among decision-makers.