Submitted by Damian Whiteley, Jan 22, 2007 19:11

Thankyou for your enthusiastic report on the fine performance of Rossini's Otello given by OONY at Carnegie Hall last week. It is always interesting to hear other people's opinions on voices, but one would advise getting the facts straight! Ruxane Donose did not sing "a million high C's". She sang two in the finale of Act One (ably seconded by Maria Zifchak) and a third at the climax of the Act Two trio. Three in total. She did however sing many B flats and even a few B naturals (rather thrillingly! Brava!) Likewise the fine tenore di grazia Kenneth Tarver, sang six or seven top C's and even a D, and I lost count of how many B flats, so numerous they were, but NOT once did his "pitch sag(ged)" (Review:January 19). Please be fair to talented artists; describe their voices as you experience them, BUT stick to the facts (thus avoiding becoming a disciple of one of Rossini's finest creations, Don Basilio!).

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