LETTERS.

BAYREUTH EXIT

The articles celebrating the 125th anniversary of Bayreuth [May] were of particular interest. I, too, was in attendance at the "holy of holies" last summer. After trying to get tickets for more than ten years, I discovered that it was really quite simple -- just join a Wagner society and/or make a substantial donation to the Festival. The Festspielhaus on the hill was impressive in its simplicity. The benches on the grounds outside were often filled with locals watching the "outside" show.

The less said of the "Euro-tech" production, the better. Scaffolding, stainless steel, glass, Berlin-style drawing rooms, Sieglinde with a rifle, Wotan with a paper shredder and copier are NOT what Wagner envisioned. And the near tipping over of the wagon of gold, bringing out stage hands in a rush, belongs, as does the entire production, in your [May] "Coda." The screaming of Gabriele Schnaut and the barking of Wolfgang Schmidt were not music.

The Emperor has no clothes!!! I look forward to other Ring cycles -- but not in Bayreuth.

E. Rita Ourom Vancouver, Canada

VIVE LA DIVA!

I attended a performance of Hamlet in Paris, in June 2000, with Thomas Hampson as Hamlet, Natalie Dessay as Ophelie and Jose van Dam as Claudius. No tickets were available; I was able to attend thanks to a friend who gave me his ticket. Dessay received a twelve-minute standing ovation (well deserved). The French do know and appreciate Natalie Dessay.