Rendering Judgment

Reading Mark Swed’s “ ‘Park’ Fails to Keep Operatic Promise” (Jan. 19) reminded me what a truly remarkable person is the classical music critic.

The book or art critic can reread or reexamine a new work before writing a review, but the music critic cannot. Although the composer has spent weeks, months or years producing his work, the critic, after only a single first hearing, is able to render not just general impressions but detailed specific judgments.

This is amazing. And incredible.

HENRY CATALDO

Canoga Park