Sir, - So that's what all the fuss was about! The end of civilisation as we know it! What a lot of nonsense! In my opinion, far from sounding the death-knell of Handel's Messiah, Frank McNamara's Messiah XXI will have the opposite effect by bringing Handel's wonderful music to a much wider audience. All the performers were great, apart from one obvious exception. They clearly enjoyed themselves, as did the audience. And wasn't it marvellous to see the choir actually smiling as they sung the Hallelujah chorus. Wonderful!
So have no fear, ye prophets of doom. I know that Messiah liveth, and shall reign for ever and ever and ever. - Yours, etc.
Mary Collins, Woodleigh Park, Cork.