HE WROTE THE WORDS

It is one thing for a member of the general public to believe that a composer writes his own lyrics and libretto, but quite another for a critic for the L.A. Times.

In his review of “New Moon,” Lewis Segal attributed four lines of lyric from “Lover, Come Back to Me” to its composer, Sigmund Romberg (“L.B. Civic Light Opera’s ‘New Moon’ on the Rise,” March 2). Oscar Hammerstein II wrote “The moon is new, but love is old. . . .” Sigmund Romberg wrote “Da-Da-Da-Da, Da-Da-Da-Da.”

Nowhere in his review did Segal give credit (or blame) to Hammerstein, or to the co-author of the show’s libretto, Frank Mandel. He mentioned several supporting cast members and the musical conductor, but not the show’s librettists or lyricist. The same things probably happened back in the 1920s when the show premiered, but one would think The Times would have learned by now.

JOHN EVEREST

Garden Grove