Letter: `People's opera'

Sir: One point has yet to be made with regard to Chris Smith's suggestion to make Covent Garden a "receiving house" for three major companies. Such a plan would make the Royal Ballet's position insupportable.

It has always suffered from having to share the house with an opera company, thus having to restrict the number of its performances and being too often (for instance) unable to give aspirant dancers the opportunity to dance major roles in London. The company's need for its own dance house in London has for many years been urgent; should Mr Smith's plan be adopted, it will be imperative.

DEREK PARKER

London W14