Tuned in.(Letter to the Editor)

Bravo, Brian Kellow! I can only add my second to everything written in the August Coda and beg indulgence to add a few personal notes.

Mr. Kellow's discussion of John Rockwell's convoluted New York Times article struck a nerve with me. I have never been to New York. The only time I ever saw the Met it was on its spring tour in St. Paul. On the other hand, I have seen operas in Chicago, Cincinnati, Norfolk and Verona, Italy, and had season tickets to Indiana University Opera Theater until the advent of children minimized my attendance at live opera performances. All of this traveling around was begotten by two things: by taking home opera recordings from the university library and by the Met broadcasts. Although I would like to experience the Metropolitan Opera in its home, I have led a rich opera life without ever having to "save up for an annual trip to New York and to the Met." I wonder it John Rockwell thinks that exposure to opera isn't necessary to developing a taste for it.

Annette McMullen

Vicennes, IN

I write to commend Brian Kellow for "Tuned Out." My parents met in standing room at the old Met during World War II, and virtually every Saturday afternoon of my life has been spent in the company of the Texaco radio broadcast. Unaccountably, nay parents still have confidence in the opinions of music critics, while I have for years complained about their general lack of insight, intelligence and perspective.

The New York Times has for so long been irrelevant to those of us who care about opera and classical music that I regard Mr. Kellow's piece as both encomium and obituary. I too miss Andrew ...