London’s Royal Opera House has turned down impressario Raymond Gubbay’s application to run the company after Michael Kaiser resigned in July. Gubbay, a flamboyant and highly successful producer of opera, has been one of the ROH’s most persistent critics. “The application included plans to limit the number of seats given to ‘friends’, which account for 80% of tickets before they reach the box office, and to reduce prices and increase the number of shows.” – The Guardian