7 JUNE 2008, Page 24

Bel canto

Sir: Stephen Pettitt laments the lack of ‘dramatic cogency’ in bel canto opera (Arts, 31 May). But dramatic cogency has never been the purpose of opera. Since singing is not the accepted manner of speaking, opera is, by definition, unrealistic. Unlike theatre, it is not meant accurately to portray emotions, but rather to reflect them through the medium of music. Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti made opera an exhilarating experience by technical and lyrical mastery — something that Wagner’s tiresome Germanic warbling and Birtwistle’s incessant din have never improved upon.

Nicholas Dixon

London E11