Artistic sense
Sir: Richard Ingrams (8 July) urges Melvynpe Bragg and me to watch the repeats of the Tortelier master classes. Neither Melvyn nor I have any real artistic sense, he sneers, preferring to pursue showmen and secondraters. Well, Melvyn can stick up for himself (personally I thought his interview with `second-rater' Ingmar Bergman last week was very good) but I just want to point out to the ignorant Ingrams that I introduced Paul Tortelier to BBC Television (Monitor) in 1961 and produced his first series of cello master classes for BBC2. The current series is also produced by my department at the BBC. Naturally, I am glad Ingrams enjoys Tortelier but saddened that he finds it necessary to run around sticking out his tongue at almost everybody and shouting `yah-boo'. It is no substitute for criticism and it is not just embarrassing, it is profoundly boring. Humphrey Burton
Head of Music and Arts BBC Television, Richmond Way, London W14
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