A Place for Beethoven

Almost 25 years ago when the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra moved to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from its old hall at Fifth and Olive, it left behind in the north end of adjacent Pershing Square the statue of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Sculpted by A. Foerster and dedicated to William Andrews Clark Jr., founder of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, it was erected by the personnel of the orchestra and presented to the people of Los Angeles in 1932.

The statue of this most famous and respected composer deserves a place of honor, not in a square named for a military general but rather at the Los Angeles County Music Center.

Now the Philharmonic will move into the Walt Disney Hall, to be constructed in the Music Center complex. Surely the Disney Hall committee will now seize the opportunity to relocate the Beethoven statue to the grounds of the facility.

ROBIN RITCHIE, Downey