Sir, - When Michael Dervan compares the cost of tickets for Vladimir Ashkenazy's forthcoming recitals in Limerick and Waterford with the higher prices for the rescheduled concert at the "statesubsidised" National Concert Hall next January, he wishes presumably, to make a hit at the latter's pricing policy.
There is a simple explanation for the difference, Mr Ashkenazy is one of the very few top name international artists who still believes that his concerts should be available not just for international metropolitan audiences but also for music lovers in much smaller towns. He makes this economically possible by performing in many such cases for expenses only, provided that the promoter also donates what they can reasonably afford to a Foundation Mr Ashkenazy has established for the support of young artists and for educational purposes in the classical music field.
The National Concert Hall presents each season a world class season of artists and orchestras for which it must pay competitive international fees and as a result Dublin's musical life compares favourably with that of many much larger and richer cities. Limerick's entrepreneurial efforts to bus Dubliners to Mr Ashkenazy's self subsidised recital next week may be enterprising but it does somewhat defeat the original purpose described above. It might also be considered as unhelpful to the NCH's efforts to serve its own constituency at the high level it consistency maintains. - Yours, etc.,
Agent and Manager for
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Penzance Place,
London WI