Credit Denied

It seems there must exist some deep-seated editorial hostility to conductor Keith Clark, and also to the music patrons of Orange County. We supporters of the Pacific Symphony have often been portrayed in your columns as bucolic dolts. Mr. Clark is, virtually without exception, depicted as ill-prepared and incompetent. When the orchestra does, albeit rarely, display some playing he deems worthy of praise, (Calendar music critic Chris) Pasles takes pains to point out that this is in spite of--not because of--Mr. Clark’s leadership.

This is a very young orchestra that makes no pretensions to being the Boston Symphony or the New York Philharmonic--nor should it be reviewed with such lofty standards in mind. Give it time.

JACK HIRSHBERG

Laguna Niguel