28 FEBRUARY 1987, Page 28

Coward's contribution

Sir: Frank Johnson (`Domingo — free for some', 24 January; Letters 14 and 21 February) reminded me, less reverently, of Noel Coward's contribution to opera crit- icism:

We must also admit that every Victorian hurdy-gurdy Owes a deep debt of gratitude to Giuseppe Verdi.

Dominic Vlasto

107 Victoria Road, London NW6