Sir , – Michael Gannon hails the provision of a new company to present what the Arts Council calls "main-scale opera in Dublin" (July 10th). Nobody could disagree with Mr Gannon's expressed hope that "all 'participant' parties" should see this "as an opportunity for a renewed departure".
However, who are these “participant parties” to be? Mr Gannon’s closing description of our era as one “blessed with outstanding internationally renowned Irish opera singers” suggests that his vision of “Irish opera” doesn’t include any composers.
So will the future of main-scale Irish opera be entrusted to the usual handful of dead Italians and Germans, with perhaps a judicious sprinkling of fashionable American minimalists? – Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE,
Dublin 1.