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An English National Opera production of  Der Rosenkavalier
Is encouraging British politicians to attend operas like this ENO production of Der Rosenkavalier really the right thing to do? Photograph: Robbie Jack/Corbis
Is encouraging British politicians to attend operas like this ENO production of Der Rosenkavalier really the right thing to do? Photograph: Robbie Jack/Corbis

Could opera improve the tenor of political debate?

This article is more than 8 years old

There must be many reasons why individual politicians fight shy of declaring a love of the arts (Why you won’t catch a British politician at the opera, 31 July) but in a country like ours, bursting at the seams with talented, creative people, it is both their loss and ours. Theirs, because the arts, of whatever discipline, via an emotional transfusion to the heart, endeavour to speak the truth. In one shot both knowledge and insight for free, what could be more nourishing and wonderful than that? It’s our loss that they resist this insightful, entertaining and character-forming experience. Yes, until very recently, much of the arts have been supported by the better-off in society, but with the advent of live transmissions no school, institution or workplace needs to be deprived of the very best of live performance recordings. What was once commonly held to be true, that the arts were to teach the teachers, is no longer the case. Dear politicians, don’t be embarrassed, don’t be afraid of the truth, embrace it. We will all be richer for it.
Judy Liebert
Nottingham

Martin Kettle will perhaps have a lot to answer for if politicians decide that the way to broaden their knowledge of life beyond politics is to start going to see opera, where a typical week in an opera house gives us rape, murder, treachery and miscellaneous deception. Still, now that Glyndebourne no longer allows arrival by helicopter, at least we will be all in it together.
Tim Barnsley
London

Martin Kettle decries the scarcity of opera-going British politicians, but he doesn’t realise how lucky he is. If Austrian politicians copied their Westminster counterparts, it would be a lot easier to get a decent seat in the Vienna Staatsoper and at the Salzburg Festival.
Dr John Doherty
Vienna, Austria

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