THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502090014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Mark Mobley's review of Virginia Opera's ``Simon Bolivar'' brought an often repeated question to my mind: ``Why does the newspaper keep employing this man?''
The premier performance was attended by respected reviewers from all over the world. It is interesting to note that of all the reviews published so far, Mark Mobley's was the most negative. The Washington Post reviewer's only complaint was that the opera was not scheduled to be performed in the D.C. area.
Some of Mobleys' comments were not only negative but were as mean-spirited as they were unfounded. He stated that ``Bolivar's music was too difficult for the chorus.'' Mr. Mobley cannot know if the music was too difficult or not. All he can report is whether or not the chorus sang it properly. The chorus's performance was lauded in all of the other reviews.
Hampton Roads is blessed with an amazing selection of fine-arts organizations. With budget cuts and rising costs threatening so many of these groups, irresponsible criticism like Mr. Mobley's can do irreparable harm. It is regrettable that Landmark Communications turns a blind eye to his obvious inability to be objective. As a monopoly newspaper, you force us to suffer Mobley as we would the tantrums of a spoiled child.
Mr. Mobley should worry less about building a reputation as a hard reviewer and concentrate on being a fair one.
ROBERT A. STEIN
Norfolk, Jan. 26, 1995 by CNB