27 JULY 1996, Page 26

Horrible stalls

Sir: Helen Anderson thinks I am bluffing (Letters, 20 July). Not so! Let anyone who doubts the sincerity of my claim to yearn for the front amphitheatre at the Royal Opera House present themselves at the press desk in the nobs' foyer half an hour before any opera first night. If I am there and they bear a copy of the week's Specta- tor, a pair of tickets for the front amphithe- atre (rows A–K) and a token of apprecia- tion of Miss Anderson (say, a dozen lilies or a bottle of Bollinger), I shall be glad to exchange their seats for my horrible ones in row H of the stalls and think myself lucky in doing so.

Rupert Christiansen

60 Chelsham Road, London SW4