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 What is it with the culturally immature, Americans? Not only do we have a commentary two-hander before the opera which would even disgrace "Match of the Day", we have audiences determined to get in first with their applause even before the end of the magical Love Duet from Madam Butterfly.

I have even heard them do this before the end of Wotan's Farewell in Walkure and the Liebestod in Tristan und Isolde, plus the rattling of their seats as they get up to leave.

BBC Radio 3, do we really need to be receiving these juvenile relays from New York's Metropolitan Opera?

Christopher Morley

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