With reference to Mario Calafato's letter (October 1), I fail to see the correlation between Brian Schembri's superb conducting and the technical level, or lack thereof, of the pianist who accepted to interpret Beethoven's masterpiece.

I also do not understand - and I quote - what Mro Schembri's "wonderful glistening curls" and "Michael Laus" had to do with the musical proceedings of the evening.

Mr Calafato should perhaps learn the difference between subjective criticism and jaded criticism before quoting Bernard Levin. Where was Mr Calafato during years of back-to-back, incessant and mediocre music-making with virtually the same individual on the podium ad nauseam?

Although the critic is many times the only independent source of information, one need not be too clever to see through certain unashamedly biased "opinions" that cast a suspicious light on the real motivations of the writer.

Today, we are extremely privileged to have, at last, individuals who are prepared to work hard to attract Mro Schembri more often to our shores. It is indeed not surprising that another son of Malta who is making his country so proud worldwide, tenor Joseph Calleja, has found it natural to form a tandem with Mro Schembri to regale local record crowds to their yearly concerts.

It will not take one mischievous critique to foul that which has been laboriously achieved so far - to bring to us the genius that is Mro Schembri.