Covent Garden buskers told to keep quiet

On one side is an eclectic group of professional buskers who insist on their right to perform.

On the other, is the owner of a Covent Garden toy shop who says five opera singers belting out arias on his doorstep makes it impossible to think, let alone run a business.

Now an 80-strong group of street performers are boycotting the prime patch next to Eric Snook's shop in the market's lower courtyard, after management heeded his complaints and ordered the five opera singers to ply their trade in a more open part of the tourist attraction.

Even the OperaBabes, who were plucked from obscurity after being spotted busking in the piazza, have pledged their support for the musicians over the shopkeeper.

But one member of staff at the shop, who declined to be named, said: "You can't even hear the telephone ring when the loudest opera performers are on song. The space is very confined in this courtyard and the noise has nowhere to go."

Mr Snook says, however, it is only the loudest of the performers which are driving him to distraction. He said: "We are all in favour of entertainment in Covent Garden but the noise from some performers is such that it makes it very difficult to run a business. No performer has been banned, rather five have been asked to sing in a more open space upstairs."

Comedy violinist Dimitri van Zwanenberg, who is leading the buskers' revolt, said it was outrageous the opera singers had been moved to another part of the market. He said: "This could be just the tip of the iceberg - who knows how many more of us will be told to leave. The market's management have been chipping away at our numbers one by one and we are getting a raw deal. That's why we've decided to take a stand."

Royal Academy-trained Fiona Mariah, 36, a former Covent Garden Performer of the Year, is one of the ousted opera singers who dismissed claims that they were too loud.

She said: "It's complete nonsense, an excuse. The public takes great pleasure from our performances and I hope we can build bridges with the market and Mr Snook to find a solution."

But the relocation of the singers to the market's north hall is only a temporary measure. Covent Garden Market's management said: "We consider our performers to be not only highly talented but an integral part of the shopping and entertainment on offer here." They said the relocation of the opera singers "is on a trial basis, and does not impinge on either the frequency or calibre of performances in the lower courtyard".

But the musicians say they might leave Covent Garden for good. Mr Van Zwanenberg said: "It would be a terrible shame if this marvellous old tradition of street performing was lost."