BBC Radio 4 presenter accuses orchestras of marketing ‘trumpet crumpets’ in sexism row
BBC Radio 4 presenter Dame Jenni Murray has accused classical musicians of orchestrating a sexist work environment by marketing female musicians as ‘trumpet crumpets’ in the belief that ‘sex sells’.
Singling out female musicians such as Nicola Benedetti and Alison Balsom as having had to go along with such pressures, Murray pointed to tabloid coverage of Benedetti describing her as ‘fit as a fiddle’.
Recalling some of the experiences of sexism mentioned to her, Dame Jenni said one person told her she: “was told by male members of her orchestra that hours of wrapping her lips around the mouthpiece must improve her talent in other departments”.
The Women’s Hour presenter added: “Even those women who made it have had a pretty tough time,” said Dame Jenni. “Sir Thomas Beecham once told a female cellist, ‘You have between your legs the most sensitive instrument known to man and all you can do is sit there and scratch it”.