LETTER: Operatic costs, funding and audiences

From Mr Paul Freeman

Sir: In the debate about the funding of opera, nobody seems to have suggested television as a potential source of revenue. There are occasional live broadcasts made by the BBC and Channel 4, and usually a couple of recordings are shown at Christmas, but if the existing and potential popularity of opera are as good as is supposed, then surely this is an area that should be exploited.

Television broadcasts of live or recorded performances would serve existing demand for opera, increase its popularity, help bring more people to live opera of all scales from amateur to international, and provide a considerable source of revenue.

If one night from each production put on at Covent Garden were to be broadcast live, just think of the differences that would be made in these areas.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Freeman

Wotton under Edge,

Gloucestershire