L'Opéra de Montréal outraged

Philip Anson has done it again! Much like he did in a recent article about the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Anson has again managed to dump on L'Opéra de Montréal while writing about something that has nothing to do with our company.

In his article "French lessons" [April 10], Anson writes in support of French opera and Canadian singers but concludes with a line that really comes out of nowhere: "Isn't it time Montreal stops hiring in New Jersey and starts hiring at home?" Mr. Anson is trying to expose a conspiracy which simply does not exist. Surely Mr. Anson is aware that out of the eight singers he mentions in his article, five have appeared at L'Opéra de Montréal (Tracey Dahl, Kathleen Brett, Leila Chalfoun, Lyne Comtois and Gordon Gietz), some on several occasions and as recently as last season. In fact, some of these singers got their start in L'Opéra de Montréal's apprenticeship program, l'Atelier lyrique. Another one of the singers mentioned, Brett Polegato, will be appearing in two of our productions next season.

Mr. Anson's comments in this and previous articles are no longer worth defending to L'OdM management, because he merely bothers to cover our productions between writing about his many adventures in New York.

John Trivisonno - Press relations, English media L'Opéra de Montréal

We're no cult, spake Zoroastrians

In the April 3 issue of the Mirror, your "Networthy" column ["Cult catalogue now online"] contains information about a Web site that is supposed to serve as a source of information on cults. Unfortunately, upon inspection I found it mediocre at best.

Zoroastrianism never started as a cult and never has been one. It has always been a monotheistic religion and and its members certainly do not appreciate being called "cult members," either by your columnist or by the Web site editors.

For future reference, if your columnists are "incapable" of checking out the sources of a Web site to assess its objectivity, they shouldn't "ignorantly" quote it as "fairly objective."

Kourosh Edalati, President- Zoroastrian Student Association of McGill University

How dare you dump Cecil Adams!

Many years back, the Mirror was an intelligent alternative paper. Then it sunk deeper and deeper into commercialism, and even got rid of Julianne Pidduck's column--one of my favourites. All the articles were poorly researched junk. Finally, there were only two bits worth reading--Real Astrology and The Straight Dope.

Now The Straight Dope is gone, leaving only one bit worth reading. Not much for all that newsprint. Barely worth inking up your hands for.

V. Unger

Nothing left in the Mirror

Now that the Mirror has been sold to the [Ed: potentially libellous expletives deleted] Péladeau, how will the newspaper live up to its long-lived left-wing pretensions and uncompromising belief in justice?

As it is, it would seem to me that to continue trying to cover the community while you yourselves become complete pariahs is very sad indeed.

No wonder the Mirror covers only music now. You think that if you turn up the sound loud enough, the accusations against your paper will be drowned out and no one will notice.

What a fine mess you've all landed in!

Vince Donolo

Mature raver enraged

I would like to express what I see as the increasing greed of some Montreal club owners and promoters. We attended a rave at Club Home on Saturday, April 12. My friends and I are not big drinkers (been there and done that) and we do not do drugs. After spending $15 just to get in and upwards of $3.50 for non-alcoholic drinks (including water), do you know what the club does to their valued customers? They turn off all the cold water in the bathrooms and only leave customers with access to hot water.

Upon leaving the club I asked to speak to the management, but was basically given a rude brush-off. I am not a 17-year-old raver/teenager, I am a 29-year-old health-care professional so I don't want to be treated like an ignorant child. Yes, if I want to dance all night long I will and if the club owners choose to turn off their air-conditioning and turn the clubs into saunas I can live with it, but don't expect me to spend $20 or more for water for the night. I can afford it, but what about those who cannot? Dehydration and heat exhaustion can be a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening event.

Geoff Adams, RN - Montreal