Sir, - Last Friday night I attended yet another very enjoyable evening in the National Concert Hall. I do not think that it is generally acknowledged how fortunate we are to have such a good orchestra. Credit for this must go to the principal conductor, Maestro Alexander Anissimov, and the principal guest conductor, Maestro Gerhard Markson, who have dragged the NSO out of the doldrums in which it has lounged since the departure of Bryden Thomson many years ago.I have noticed lately that the members of the orchestra have become much happier in their work and on a few occasions recently have actually smiled in response to applause from the audience. I would exhort those of your readers who enjoy music to give more support to the National Concert Hall and not just on the occasions when visiting soloists perform in celebrity recitals. Some of these visitors can behave in an arrogant fashion which the young up-and-coming players have not yet adopted.I cannot think of a better way of letting the stresses and strains of a busy week drain away than two hours of lovely music in delightful surroundings. William Congreve knew what he was talking about when he said that "music hath charms to soothe the savage breast". - Yours, etc.,Muireann Hourihane, Oswald Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4.