Readers Rate, Rake Music, Theater, Art and Dance : Pop Music

Readers responded with sincerity, wit and, occasionally, vehemence to our queries for their assessments of the best and worst in pop music, theater, art, classical music and dance in Orange County in 1992. Here is some of what they had to say:

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I attended the West Coast premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio (at the Orange County Performing Arts Center) which was simplistic at best, with repeated chords reminiscent of a synthesized underpinning.

As far as the Master Chorale of Orange County is concerned, I am appalled that this organization would stoop to deception in attempt to gain ticket sales. Ever since they announced their “coup” of gaining the West Coast premiere of this piece, they relied on the premise that Mr. McCartney would appear at the performance. In their print ads, they showed McCartney poised with a baton. Nowhere did it mention that the concert actually would be conducted by William Hall. I find it outrageous that an organization affiliated with classical music would permit such blatant misrepresentations of a performance.

I also take offense to having had to purchase a “souvenir program” is order to gain knowledge of the piece being performed. I have attended many classical concerts and program notes always have been part of the free program. Souvenir programs are available at many rock concerts which, it appears, was the marketing strategy employed by the Master Chorale. I am saddened that persons unfamiliar with classical music now have a warped impression of what it is all about. This performance clearly showed me that Mr. Hall is not to be trusted.

JULIE RUTH

Irvine