Madam, - It was with great disappointment that I heard from Celso Antunes that he no longer felt able to continue his development of the National Chamber Choir in conjunction with the present Arts Council. I know from over 30 years' experience in the music/university world that high standards and adventurous programming do not come cheaply, but against that one has to measure the excellent reputation and rapport that Celso Antunes has established with the NCC.
Having heard them perform, I believe that they can sing with pride alongside any other such specialist choir in Europe, which is not a situation that should be lightly sacrificed or compromised. Mr Antunes has vision and an unerring sense of practicable and challenging repertoire and I hope that some way will be found that will enable his colleagues Karina Lundström, Colin Mawby and David Byers to work with him again, in the interests of the international reputation of Irish music. - Yours, etc,
ROBERT ORLEDGE,
Emeritus Professor of Music,
University of Liverpool,
England.