The English National Opera was given a �4.2m grant to survive

Mr Legge's decision has been greeted with "dismay" by colleagues, according to The Times newspaper.

His departure would be the latest in a string of problems to hit the company.

Last month members of the opera company's chorus went on strike in protest over proposed cuts to its numbers.

A spokesman for ENO said he did not know when or if Mr Legge would be leaving.

The plan for redundancies follows a warning by ENO chairman Martin Smith that job cuts were needed for the company to survive, despite a �4.1m grant from the Arts Council in January.

Going bust

English National Opera intends to sack a fifth of its 500-strong company, beginning with voluntary redundancies in June.

The Arts Council's board is to meet on Tuesday to decide how much money is needed to stop English National Opera from going bust.

Adding to the company's problems, cleaning staff at ENO are to be balloted for strike over the next few days in protest at redundancies among their numbers.

And chorus members are considering a second walkout on 3 April, to coincide with the British premi�re of The Handmaid's Tale.

Equity, the chorus member's union, has re-entered talks with ENO but the threat of strike action remains.

"They are now addressing our ideas of how to save jobs," a spokesman for the union said.

He added: "We will know within 48 hours whether there is a deal or there is strike action."

A new artistic director, Sean Doran, takes over at the company in April, replacing Nicholas Payne, who left last year.