‘Tristan’ und ‘Macbeth’

I enjoyed Martin Bernheimer’s review of the strangest performance of “Macbeth” I have ever seen (“Music Center Imposes Bizarre Kabuki Style on Verdi’s ‘Macbeth,’ ” Dec. 14). As a businessman--not a professional musician--I had some misgivings about telling my American friends what I thought of it.

I come from a country that is called “underprivileged” or “Third World” by your compatriots. However, a performance such as the one I witnessed on a visit to Los Angeles would have been hissed off the stage in my country--Chile.

I do not know what I should admire more--the complacent applause during and after the opera, the enthusiastic comments of the audience or their unwillingness to ask for their money back. It seems incredible to me that they did not react to the travesty upon “Macbeth-San” with indignation and scorn. How can they possibly accept such a poorly staged and performed parody of a great masterpiece?

FRANCISCO VILLAGRAN

Santiago, Chile