6 MAY 2000, Page 28

From Mr Christopher Landor Sir: I'm glad that Frank Johnson

was not aware that the title American Beauty is in fact the name of a breed of rose, an exam- ple of which adorns the film's poster. He would not have been able to write that arti- cle which circumnavigates in a most amus- ing fashion. Perhaps he can tell us which country has achieved dominance in opera since 1926 .

Christopher Landor

vox2@idt.net