Musician claims bullying and harassment at tribunal

A former oboist with the Welsh National Opera has told an employment tribunal that he was bullied and harassed by the orchestra’s conductor and musical director.

Murray Johnston was sacked by the WNO after 34 years and having made more than 50 recordings. He is claiming unfair dismissal at the Cardiff tribunal. He said that he fell out with Carlo Rizzi after telling him to stop singing while they practised and was then targeted by Rizzi, being “persistently abused”.

Johnston told the tribunal that on one occasion the conductor stopped a rehearsal “probably 20 or 30 times” to criticise his playing, making him feel “victimised and bullied”. The oboist was later forced to undertake a capability test, despite having over 30 years experience of playing with the opera.

WNO managing director Peter Bellingham told the tribunal that Johnston had not been unfairly dismissed, saying that Rizzi felt that his standards had dropped to such a level that he was holding the entire orchestra back.

The hearing continues.

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