Letters, Oct. 15, 1979

The "Big P"

To the Editors:

I felt stimulated on seeing the face of Luciano Pavarotti on your cover [Sept 24]. He is not to be compared with other greats: he stands magnificently apart!

Joan C. Conell

Fort Lauderdale, Fla

Luciano Pavarotti is the finest operatic tenor since Jussi Bjoerling, if not since the legendary Enrico Caruso. Ah, but you have to hear Pavarotti in concert. When all 300 Ibs. of him were here in our lovely Music Hall, the city fathers were concerned that the stomping of those in the balconies might cause the balconies to collapse.

Eugene E. Scanlan

Cincinnati

Pavarotti is a giver. His generosity and sincerity shine in every note. His desire to reach his audience is palpable. Long may he share his voice with a world yearning for sweetness and beauty.

Katherine Eshleman

Lafayette. Calif.

Luciano Pavarotti is the fourth greatest musicmaker of all times: 1) Apollo, 2) Orpheus, 3) Caruso, 4) Pavarotti.

Joseph T. Kelly

New Orleans

There can be little argument concerning the greatness of the Pavarotti talent. TIME is to be commended for honoring it. It is a shame that in the process equally great artists such as Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo and Jon Vickers, whose artistry differs, were so cavalierly dismissed

Steven L. Herrald

New York City

I am a fervent admirer of Signor Pavarotti's voice and technique, but I find it unfortunate that you referred to Renata Scotto in such a negative manner. In the televised La Gioconda. Scotto, singing magically, was the full embodiment of opera as drama, intense, heartbreaking and constantly exciting.

Kemal Khan

Falls Church, Va

Your unqualified endorsement of the outrageous three-ring circus known as Luciano Pavarotti makes a mockery of opera as art.

Murray Schlanger

New York City

Marcos' Law

TIME has rendered the cause of Philippine freedom a splendid service [Sept. 24]. It is now clear that Ferdinand Marcos' latest excuse—economic crisis—for continuing martial law is the product of his own government's corruption and mismanagement. Meanwhile, as with the Shah and Somoza, the U.S. will continue to support Marcos until the moderate opposition is incapable of administering a peaceful and orderly transition back to democracy. When will the U.S. learn?

Raul S. Manglapus, President

Movement for a Free Philippines

Washington, D.C.

As a Filipina from Negros Occidental, I can personally attest to the outrageous atrocities committed by the Marcos regime upon the Filipino people. Marked by graft and corruption, the terror imposed by Marcos will continue unobstructed until the U.S. decides to step in and put its "human rights" policy into practice.

Julie Londres Daley

Oak Harbor, Wash.

I am afraid that Marcos is as much a victim of circumstances beyond his control as are the majority of the Filipino people. If he relaxes his martial rule, his enemies will be out to get him. If he maintains the so-called democratic authoritarianism, his enemies will still try to liquidate him.

Eugenio V. Corazo

Granada Hills, Calif.