The orchestra at the Catholic Institute

Kenneth Zammit Tabona's contribution (October 23) seems mainly to be targeted against the establishment's negative attitude towards culture as one can clearly conclude from its title, citing some examples to prove his point, among which the decision of the National Philharmonic Orchestra to hold one of its concerts at the Catholic Institute auditorium. According to him this was a "cataclysmic plunge in the decline of Maltese cultural life".

The auditorium underwent a major refurbishment programme two years ago, a move which attracted new patrons to the place. The outcome seems not to suit Mr Zammit Tabona's refined and elegant tastes, as it transpires from the disparaging tone he uses to tell us how he felt "in this dull, drab and featureless theatre", assuring us at the same time that he means "no disrespect to the building and its auditorium".

The logic behind his conclusion that this theatre is "categorically not a suitable place for an orchestra of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra's calibre to play Schumann, Mozart and Schubert" is really beyond my comprehension. It seems to surmise that this delicacy is reserved only for the privileged elite who can either afford to pay high prices or are fortunate enough to have friends who can offer them complimentary tickets to have "full houses" (this should not be a revelation to Mr Zammit Tabona).

Otherwise, why should the patrons of the Catholic Institute auditorium be deprived of such a treat? Relatively cheap prices, which according to his informers attracted the National Philharmonic Orchestra to this venue, can be the result of a deliberate choice to respect social dimensions, and does not automatically oust refined productions.

Mr Zammit Tabona assures us that what he wrote is not prompted "out of any personal interest". I take his word. But flagrant inconsistencies and contradictions contained in his article belie a confused agenda. He would send the orchestra to the playgrounds and squares in summer, wishing more people "from all walks of life" to enjoy and love orchestral music and at the same time harshly criticises the initiative to hold a concert at the Catholic Institute auditorium, which from the feedback I had from some of the musicians themselves, they enjoyed doing, praising the logistics, facilities and the acoustics of the place.

The refined performing level the orchestra has reached, for which he is rightly full of praise, is the result of an enormous effort, both monetary and artistic, which the establishment has invested in this institution over these last years, surely not an indication of "institutionalised philistinism".