It was good to read Andrew Clements’ generous review of the Saffron Opera Group’s recent concert performance of Siegfried (15 February). Your readers might also like to know how the Saffron achievements have built on the experience of the Edinburgh Players Opera Group, also conducted by Mike Thorne and illuminated by the singing of Elaine McKrill and Jonathan Finney. Run by the much-loved and greatly missed Philip Taylor, EPOG has, since 2000, presented two complete Ring cycles, Tristan and Parsifal twice, and also Meistersinger and Tannhäuser (in memory of Philip). Moving on to Strauss, EPOG has also done Der Rosenkavalier and Die Frau, with more to come.
In spite of the many threats to live music from political and commercial interests, these remarkable achievements (and Saffron and Edinburgh are by no means alone) demonstrate the extraordinary standards that are currently attained by committed amateur and community groups with inspired leadership.
Stephen Spackman
St Andrews, Fife
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