25 APRIL 1987, Page 22

Tosca

Sir: Surely John Grigg (Diary, 11 April) has it the wrong way round. The trouble about Tosca as a parable of freedom against despotism is that we would never nowadays think of the Papal States c.1800 as an example of appalling tyranny. Nero yes, the Inquisition by all means, the Bourbons at a pinch — but Scarpia, no. Jonathan Miller puts the opera among the savageries of 1944, and the difficulty vanishes. The fear, suspense and anger at once become more intense and memor- able.

Douglas Hurd

House of Commons, London SWI