Letter: Penny-pinching on Brum's musical treasure

Sir: It is disturbing to read of the imperilled state of one of our finest orchestras. Would the situation have arisen had the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra been a capital-based orchestra?

We are pouring vast quantities of money into venues such as the South Bank Centre, which manages little of Simon Rattle's adventurous programming, despite the comparative safety of such luxuries as resident orchestras, chamber groups, etc.

This, while one of Britain's finest orchestras languishes on the brink of financial ruin with a grant in desperate need of review.

Yours faithfully,

MARJORIE DAWSON

London, E17