Letter: A tribute Britten could do without

Sir: It is David Lister ('The battle of Britten', 1 June) who is entirely - and navely - wrong about the 'cultural and economic consequences' of bootlegging, with reference to the distribution of illicit recordings of Benjamin Britten. Mr Lister may 'rejoice' - his word - at what he thinks is a 'unique tribute' to Britten's status. It is a salutation we would prefer to do without.

Mr Lister seems not to realise that the practice of bootlegging, if not actively combated, will undermine the objectives that Britten's trustees have been working towards these past years - the legitimate issue of the recorded live performances by Britten, which represent one of the most important musical legacies this country has had the good fortune to

inherit.

Britten's trustees have no thought of suppressing or discouraging the release of this unique sound archive. On the contrary, we want to find a way of making it accessible to the world at large by means that will secure the performers their rightful remuneration and maintain the normal standards of artistic quality and technical control.

Each piratical act makes our task more difficult, and if left unchecked would ultimately destroy the possibility of this extraordinary archive coming into everybody's possession, including Mr Lister's.

Yours sincerely,

DONALD MITCHELL

Chairman

The Britten Estate

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

2 June

(Photograph omitted)