Sir, - We take issue with Michael Seaver's article (November 21st) denigrating the "scourge" of international ballet companies performing some of the world's greatest ballets at Christmas at The Point, Dublin. It seems that he would much rather see lesser-known ballet companies performing to smaller audiences with lesser-known productions to suit his own taste.
Our company is the producer of the Russian Stanislavski Ballet performing at The Point this Christmas. We also produced the previous three Christmas ballets at The Point.
To produce a ballet of this standard takes the best part of a year, in both planning and organising. As producers, we commit to substantial costs including such items as air fares for 80 people (around £25,000), the trucking of the production luggage (around £20,000), costs related to the production itself (around £50,000), advertising and marketing (around £150,000), hotel accommodation for artistes and production staff (around £25,000), plus the cost of the ballet company itself and the rental of The Point Theatre.
The ballet companies are of top international standard, and we employ the 100-piece National Symphony Orchestra to accompany them. This year's fare, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker (December 14th to 17th), are universally acknowledged as two of the greatest ballets and we anticipate performing to sell-out audiences this year as we have done on the previous three occasions.
What is Mr Seaver's problem? If we produce more obscure ballets who is going to underwrite the costs given the uncertain audience? Why is Mr Seaver so against "audiences in Ireland who continue to devour the lollipop programmes?
A great number of people from all backgrounds in Ireland hugely enjoy this annual event and we do our utmost to ensure that the ticket costs are comparable to alternative entertainment such as pop concerts, musicals, etc.
I note that no criticism was made of the standard of the ballet productions, and in fact the critics were universally complimentary when the Russian Stanislavski last visited Dublin in 1997.
So one must ask is the problem with the ballets on offer and the audience who so much enjoy them? Or is it with Mr Seaver who for some unknown reason of inverted snobbery prefers the obscure to the spectacular. His sneering use of such phrases as "middle-class pantos" (twice), "child-friendly Christmas theme", "shamefacedly commercial", "right social class", "social trappings and middle class values" and "lollipop programmes" perhaps give some clue to the answer. - Yours, etc.,
Simon Walton, For International Leisure & Arts Inc, Berkshire, England.