I am looking forward to the BBC's so-called 'Opera Month' - even though there doesn't seem to be much broadcast than in a typical month in my youth...
I was sadly disappointed in reading the ridiculous article on Luciano Pavarotti. The first reason was asking the question "Is he the greatest?" The evidence comes from 'his conductor' and a very measured, non-committal comment from Roberto Alagna (who believes that Roberto Alagna is the greatest tenor!)
There was no attempt to seriously analyse this question. For example - no mention made of his minuscule repertory (no Tchaikowsky, no modern works - and how can any singer be called 'great' when they have never done Wagner), no mention of his inability to read music, his very modest acting talents, his notoriuos habit of cancelling at the last minute, not to mention his obvious poor judgement in making Andrea Bocelli his protege. Nobody who actually knows anything about opera seriously rates Pav, except for his erstwhile ability to pull off a few High 'Cs'
The second aspect that annoyed me was the ridiculous and patronising insert "Sounds Familiar". Surely the majority of the target audience for this programme/Radio Times article may actually know a few operatic arias from sources other than TV advertisements. Maybe they have CDs of arias sung by Pavarotti, or by great singers. Would it be stretching it a bit to suggest that some of them may have actually listened to whole operas, perhaps on CD DVD/TV, or heaven forfend, actually at an Opera House.
Come on Radio Times - please don't treat us all as idiots
Hmm, I have way too much time on my hands - and the Letters Page says 'keep it brief'
