Sir, – Donald Clarke’s criticism of André Rieu (Opinion, April 13th) goes beyond the pale of acceptable criticism; it is, rather, unpleasantly abusive: “a pumped-up, vulgar megalomaniac with the aesthetic sensibilities of a Floridian drug baron”.
In an age in which very many habitually throw themselves randomly around at each other, rather than with each other, drunkenly and lecherously, in often violent nightclubs, and then dare brand themselves dancers, we should welcome André Rieu’s popular resurrection of this most civilised of dance forms, the Viennese waltz, as a mass antidote. Kudos to André Rieu, as to many lovers of dance, he is a phoenix from the terpsichorean ashes! And hail to Johann Strauss II, also, that “laughing genius of Vienna” (Richard Strauss): Did Johannes Brahms not say that he would have destroyed all of his own works if he could instead have had Johann Strauss II’s gift for melody! – Yours, etc,
RYAN FITZPATRICK,
The Diamond,
Belturbet, Co Cavan.
Sir, – Hats off to Donald Clarke (Opinion, April 13th). His dissertation on the subject of Sky Arts 2, Sky Arts Rieu and André Rieu was a perceptive masterpiece.
I loved Sky Arts 2 until the station was savaged by the André Rieu season. During advertisements on other channels, I usually looked to Sky Arts 2 for solace but I recently found the ads to be far more entertaining. Thank goodness that Sky Arts 2 is back! – Yours, etc,
BRYAN L O’FLAHERTY,
Stradbrook Lawn,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Not having Sky TV channels, I am unfamiliar with André Rieu’s characteristics which so outrage Donald Clarke (Opinion, April 13th). However, the off button or the channel changer would instantly put him out of his torment. – Yours, etc,
ANNE Mc MANUS,
Maunsell’s Park,
Galway.