RTE Orchestra Celebration

Sir, - I have received an invitation to the RTE concert on February 14th celebrating the 50th anniversary of the foundation of…

Sir, - I have received an invitation to the RTE concert on February 14th celebrating the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the symphony orchestra. As official documents and newspaper items confirm, the development of the institution now being celebrated was the product of my period as director of music at Radio Eireann, which began in 1941. This is especially true of the Radio Eireann orchestra concerts from 1943 onwards, when we regularly played to a full house in the old Capitol Theatre - capacity 2,300, double that of the present National Concert Hall - and the Department of Finance was finally encouraged to open the purse-strings.It is 30 years since I came back to live in my native country, but this is the first time I have ever been invited to any RTE celebration. I believe the programme notes for the coming celebration concert will carry some references to my work in developing the orchestra. These references will also be a "first", as far as I know.With the passage of time during this same 30-year period, it has become evident that there has been a firm RTE policy to debar me from any engagement with the orchestra.In all the circumstances, the invitation for February 14th seems inappropriate. I believe my attendance on the festive occasion would be embarrassing. It would certainly be embarrassing for me. - Yours, etc.,Michael Bowles,Heytesbury Lane,Dublin 4.