In her ‘The Phantom of the Opera(s)’ (November 1), written amusingly as always, Kristina Chetcuti writes of the pleasure of sitting in a row not far from the orchestra pit during an opera performance and watching the instrumentalists as they put their skill and love into what they are playing.

I am not sure I agree with Chetcuti on this point, for I feel that when going to the opera it is the singers and the stage performance in general that should absorb the audience’s interest.

If she enjoys, as I do as well, watching orchestral players at close range, I suggest that she watches the programmes of the television channel Mezzo. The channel presents an opera, sometimes even two, on most days, and allows the viewer to see the performers at very close range, bringing out their skill and sometimes even their performing weaknesses beautifully.

While the orchestra is given only secondary importance in transmissions of opera, it is given prime importance when transmitting performances by orchestras or chamber groups.

Watching this channel should open up to Chetcuti pleasures very great indeed.