THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
I wish to support your music reviewer Mark Mobley. I feel his criticisms of musical activities in Hampton Roads are fair, balanced, to the point.
In particular I note that his criticism of the recently premiered opera ``Simon Bolivar'' was quite just. However, I did not agree with his remarks about the choice of Spanish for the libretto of the opera. The language in which an opera is sung makes no difference as long as the poetry of the text is maintained.
At the end of the first act of ``Simon Bolivar,'' I remained in my seat puzzling over what I had seen and heard. There was something familiar here; I could not pinpoint it. Then it hit me: The opera I had just seen was a revival of all the school pageants I had ever seen. The stage production itself was much better than the grammar schools and high schools could produce, the music richer, fuller. The soprano was most enjoyable. But, in fine, it was a school pageant - no more, no less.
Better try next time, Virginia Opera!
EDWARD J. BOONE JR.
Norfolk, Feb. 10, 1995 by CNB