Opera, Seen and Heard

I have been a subscriber to the L.A. Opera for five years, but never before have I seen such disregard for the balcony ticket-holders as was shown in Gian-Carlo del Monaco’s production of “Turandot.”

I sat in the center of the first row of the balcony, and for a good portion of the first and second acts I could not see the singers, because they were so high up on the set that the proscenium cut off my view. Anyone who sat higher than I did saw even less.

There is no excuse for this disregard of balcony ticket-holders. We pay for tickets to see an opera; if we want to hear it, we can listen to the radio for nothing.

Every opera patron who couldn’t see what they paid for at “Turandot” should complain to L.A. Opera and to Placido Domingo, who will be responsible for future productions as artistic director. Send your director up to the balcony, Placido!

SUSAN PURKART

Riverside