Opera Northern Ireland's recent loss of its artistic director, Stephen Barlow, could hardly have come at a worse time, writes Michael Dervan. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has set up a review group chaired by former Northern Ireland Supreme Court judge, Sir Donald Murray, to make recommendations on opera funding and provision in Northern Ireland. And last spring, ONI's Hansel and Gretel - ironically, one of the best productions of recent years - sold less than a third of its seats, a frightening drop on other recent seasons. The company, which traditionally has aimed to present two productions in September, is now going to present only one, Mozart's Magic Flute, with arrangements being handled by Isabelle Morgan, the company's artistic administrator.

A changing situation in Northern Ireland has seen Castleward Opera expanding from its summer country base, to present January runs of popular repertoire at the Grand Opera House. And Eastern European providers have also been trying to get Northern opera lovers to dig further into their pockets.

Barlow had originally planned to present Britten's Midsummer Night's Dream in September. But, faced with the poor spring box office, he had agreed to substitute Mozart's more popular Cosi fan tutte.

However, he says, under pressure from the Arts Council for Northern Ireland and the Grand Opera House Trust - and without consulting him - the board of ONI agreed a further change, to Mozart's Magic Flute. So, with his artistic brief effectively usurped, he did the honourable thing and resigned.