Madam, - I read with great interest Michael Dervan's article "A Dublin Orchestra in name only"(Arts, December 18th).
I have no problem with foreign nationals being employed in Irish orchestras so long as they are paid full Irish rates.
Neither do I have any problem with a Bulgarian orchestra touring the US. But I cannot understand why a Bulgarian orchestra should give a concert tour in the US purporting to be "Irish".
Why not call it the Bulgarian Philharmonic?
The name "Philharmonic" has a significant place in the history of musical life in Dublin. Dedicated Dublin musicians, orchestral and choral, in the Philharmonic Society (1826-66), The New Philharmonic Society (1872) and the more recent Dublin Philharmonic Society (founded 1927) were among those who kept the voice of art music alive in an Ireland almost cut off from developments in the classical musical genre. These were the true Dublin Philharmonic ensembles.
Would a Bulgarian footballer (not to mention a full team) so readily find a place in an Irish World Cup squad without any acknowledged Irish lineage? - Yours, etc,
ITE O'DONOVAN,
Director, The Lassus Scholars,
Dublin 2.