THE PROMS SIR.--To pursue Mr. Bosworth's own analogy. would he
criticise an anthology of poetry after reading only 75 per cent. of it? Yet this is exactly what he has done. The fact that mom people listen over the air than can be accommodated inside the Albert Hall is irrelevant. - Mr. Bosworth asserts that the figures he originally quoted are correct and then demonstrates that pot only has he failed to look at the full prospectus but hasn't read the Radio Times carefully either. For example, a playing time of two and a half hours was quoted for Britten whereas in fact it is only just over half that time. Against this was set a lack of Chopin, whose name appears twice in the prospectus though not in the Radio Times, and Schumann who has already had two works broadcast against the one quoted, yet neither of these composers is revered primarily for his work in the orchestral field.
And so to Wagner. 'All that is most vital in orchestral music,' says Mr. Clock. Quite so. Wagner, of course, is operatic and not an orchestral composer and although he allowed, and even conducted, con- certs of his music he did it for financial reasons. Has Mr. Bosworth forgotten that before Wood's death Monday had ceased to become sacred to Wagner? And if Wagner then why not Verdi or Bellini?
In any event, surely nobody believes that Mr. Clock has been solely responsible for the planning of the season. 1 cannot imagine that Sir Malcolm would allow himself to be dictated to as to what he might and might not conduct. But Mr. Clock has at least one feather in his cap. For the first time for several years instead of criticism the press has given the programmes almost unstinted praise. Mr. Walter Legge would agree that critics arc not a body easily satisfied en masse. Forward, Mr. Cairns.—Yours faithfully,
• F. E. 0. PIROUET 23 Lambion Road, SW20
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