Did the critic attend the same shows?

I wonder if Mark Swed had to go and lie down after writing his breathless review of the L.A. Opera production of “Luisa Fernanda” [“Domingo Finds Amor With ‘Luisa,’ ” June 5]. As an indication of his standards, Swed found the performance “flawless,” an impossibility where human beings are involved. Perhaps the Chandler Pavilion was only “decently filled” because some left at intermission, which I know to be the case.

JEROME KLEINSASSER

Bakersfield

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ACCORDING to Mark Swed, the L.A. Opera’s “Merry Widow” was “long and vulgar and insulted its audience” and its “Porgy & Bess” production was “inconsistent.” Were we there on different nights?

We and the opera goers we talked to hailed both as among the Los Angeles Opera’s best all-around productions in three years, visually delightful and sung beautifully by strong, talented artists.

Please, please, Placido, insult us again!

GARLAND ALLEN

Santa Monica