Madam, - The unwarranted attack (Letters, May 17th) on the competence of our National Symphony Orchestra cannot remain unchallenged. I too attended Beethoven's 9th Symphony at the NCH on Friday last, the fifth cumulative night of music-making by the orchestra styled "Beethovenfest". What the orchestra did was heroic. And at the beginning of the 3rd (slow) movement, there was a brief slip of a horn - but all was forgiven by what followed; beautiful playing,more than satisfying. I've attended music-making in many venues e.g. The "Golden Hall" Vienna, The Statsopers: Vienna,Berlin, Muenchen, Dresden, Augsburg, Copenhagen, London and the Bayreuther Festspiele on more than one occasion. Stand up and take a bow ladies and gentlemen of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland - you were, and are, wonderful. - Yours etc,
CHRISTOPHER McQUAID,
Chairman, the Wagner Society of Ireland,
Rathcoole,
Co Dublin.