No way to conduct debate

Maria Blanco (Criticism Of Orchestra Conductor, October 29) misrepresents me. May I please ask her to show me exactly where I said that, "The orchestra was under-rehearsed"?

Intelligent argument and discussion should never depend on such falsehoods.

Instead of some amorphous, unsubstantiated dismissive, I gave detailed reasons, backed up by specific, textual references direct from Beethoven's manuscript to substantiate my comments previously and, disagreements notwithstanding, it ill-behoves a writer to misquote their protagonist - it is unwise, unjust and in the long-term, self-defeating.

I have no wish to enter into any lengthy correspondence with anyone who was upset by my letters, which was never my intention anyway, especially as word has since reached me from theatre representatives that the pianist was not feeling well that evening, for which I am genuinely sorry, but I would like to know, how could anyone possibly defend a concert they never attended?