Dear Peggy, I've no doubt your observations are most correct and generous, however, the devil's in the detail. It appears that you are most impressed by deference paid to the conservatory system that Lloyd so magnificently upheld. Most are. Naturally I would not suggest there is a lobby at work in the attributions contained in the credits, merely that there are, as Lloyd said, the reputations of great educational institutions being offered as the guarantee of a complete training. Excellent.
So now the detail? The extensions of the training beyond the institutions?
Can it be that it wasn't necessary, or is there simply more to be gained by down-playing the difficult subsequent honing that the individual must do before he is entitled to become a member of the team? For team-work is a product of a communal system and conflicts with the essential selfishness of any training, especially singing! I loudly applaud Lloyd's principle of the best for the most and agree with the other principle of harmony of relationships required for team-work, but I imagine it may be irksome to simultaneously inculcate the imperative of selfishness in vocal technique,and yet that would seem to be an essential. More lowly trained people can perform all you describe but the glorious plaudits will be missing: it never looks as good to say, 'I did it _despite_ the help of Betty Smith. The bitch :)' I agree and take comfort from your following lines.
>(if) I were to dare to generalize >from this one production, I'd say that the American system of training > opera singers is in fine shape. Long may it reign.
Best Wishes Reg. PS. Betty Smith is a fictional character and bears no resemblance to another human being, living or dead.
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