LETTER : Good value at opera houses

From Mr John Nickson

Sir: It is rich of Raymond Gubbay and Patrick Deuchar to accuse the English National Opera of being "elitist and icy" (report, 11 October). They are offering 20,000 people the chance to see a semi-staged La Boheme at the Albert Hall for up to pounds 37. Nearly 45,000 people are packing the Coliseum to see Jonathan Miller's fully staged Carmen. Sixty per cent of them are paying between pounds 5 and pounds 25 to see the genuine article and enjoy real value for money.

Moreover, ENO's loyal audience has given almost pounds 1m in individual donations in the past year. These facts speak volumes

Yours faithfully,

John Nickson

Director of Public Affairs

English National Opera

London, WC2