Madam, - Prof Gerard Gillen (February 8th) is right to say that the crisis in the National Chamber Choir is caused by RTÉ's reduction in the subsidy it gives the choir. This flies directly in the face of RTÉ's public service commitment.
The choir became Ireland's only full-time professional choir because of the vision of a previous director general of RTÉ, Bob Collins, and the work of Karina Lundström and myself. It has become a group with an enviable international reputation and it is surely not part of RTÉ's mandate to preside over the possible disbandment of such a superb and prestigious ensemble. This situation does immense damage to Ireland's world-wide reputation as a country of great artistic achievement.
Sadly, the choir's present board of directors seems to have little grasp of professional choral singing; its behaviour has contributed in no small way to the crisis within the group.
The answer lies in the reconstruction of the board of directors, the restoration of RTÉ's grant and the reinstatement of Karina Lundstrom and Celso Antunes. This will not happen without the active participation of the Arts Council.
As a protest, I have today resigned my position as the choir's artistic director emeritus.
In conclusion, may I please write that I treat your paper's attack on my work with the choir (Editorial, February 5th) with disdain? - Yours, etc,
COLIN MAWBY,
Palace Gardens,
Dublin 2.
Madam, - Yes, the board of the National Chamber Choir has disgraced itself Celso Antunes (chief conductor) and Karina Lundström (chief executive) did the only decent thing: they resigned. They had reached the critical point beyond which cheap commercialisation should never, never be allowed to interfere with top-quality programming of Irish choral concerts at NCC. level. Celso Antunes in his letter of resignation quoted John Adams - no, only oafs, knaves or apes believe that art-music should pay for itself.
This is a disaster for art, for Irish excellence in art.
It is certain disaster also for us Irish composers. Karina Lundström managed this world-class choir wisely through the rocky years. Celso Antunes dreamed a great musical dream; by his conducting of the NCC, he produced Ireland choral, musical and programming standards unheard-of in Ireland. Their NCC Concerts were always unique.
Celso Antunes and Karina Lundström simply had to resign. Yes, this is simply a disgrace. - Yours, etc,
Prof FRANK CORCORAN,
(Composer and Aosdána member),
Hamburg,
Germany.