Letter: In and out of tune on London orchestras

Sir: Bryan Appleyard deserves applause for his damning indictment of the Arts Council's recent treatment of the London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic and Philharmonia orchestras.

Ken Baird, music director of the Arts Council, needs a short lesson in cultural history. He is reported (12 October) as insisting that 'London has never had a truly world-class orchestra'. Might I remind Mr Baird that two of this century's greatest conductors, Karajan and Klemperer, would not have spent more than two decades with the Philharmonia, had they considered it to be anything other than world-class?

Yours faithfully,

MARK WILLIAMS

London, N4