[The letters below are supposed to be indented, but I can't make that feature work.]

Other than for 'the' letter in support of your stance, I can't type all the letters against, but following is an overview.

I didn't count, but letters against you would have numbered about thirteen or fourteen, although, off my experience whereby I get about one letter published for every three sent, I suspect they probably received about forty or fifty against (just guessing).

The letter in support was well written, obviously connoting a more civilised, more refined mind than the hordes against. That letter in its entirety was:

'As one who strives to catch the attention of readers of your Letters page, I salute Lindsay Perigo's success with his splendid polemic.

Those born with a natural talent, in this case a beautiful singing voice, have two choices. One is to exploit their undeveloped talent for immediate,and evanescent, fame and fortune. The other is to submit oneself to a rigourous training programme to realise their potential.

Dame Kiri is justified to take a poor view of the former, while those who cherish excellence and achievement can be thankful that such dedication to art exists'.

B.H. Howard, Cashmere.

Needless to say, the hordes against never attained the giddy linguistic heights of 'polemic, evanescent, or oneself'. If I had to sum up the general tone of your enemies, here, it would be at best a grudging respect for your glorious stupidity in having such a letter published in Christchurch, but this combined with a wish that the State sterilize you so that your line cannot continue in any manner. (Though, I suspect that's not going to be a major problem.) I think I only really need to type in one of these litters, sorry, letters to give you the general gist.

'Osama bin Perigo displays the type of supercilious arrogance towards all non-classical styles of music that in a religious parallel would have believers of every faith, creed or sect [shit, it sounds like Sandi or Commander Wiig, but it can't be, obviously] different from his own screaming in the fires of hell in the after life, [at this stage I was starting to think this might be from my Dad] and therefore deserving of utter contempt in this one. I recommend [note how the writer couldn't break the rage for a paragraph break] a course of Guantanamo Bay-style corrective treatment where he is forced to listen to the great blues [ah, this explains a lot, probably likes jazz also] singer Howling Wolf at high volume for a hundred hours on the trot.'

Malcolm Lane, (no place given - must be in hiding.)

One point of interest is that the editor does a postscript to the letters page once a week on Saturday. This was his/her summary of the action over the week:

'The battle of the divas is what the spat over Kiri and Hayley should be called, but that characterisation would be tediously provocative. It would reignite the row, with people writing saying Hayley is not a diva.

This week probably saw the debate exhaust itself as correspondents began to register loyalty to one or other of the singers and say it was simply a matter of taste [mmm, I only saw the one letter of support above].

That's a sensible view, which is what several people thought Lindsay Perigo's Wednesday lead letter was not. He was florid and over the top, but he provided stimulating reading. He also put the debate about the singers into a wider context, lashing out at NZ mediocrity.

Katherine Gilliard provided that wider perspective even more tellingly and won the salmon and the pen in the process [I missed this letter, it must have been the day I was out of the office. Will try to find it and put up later.] She took aim at the cultural relativists who think everything is of equal value, and managed neatly to link the sopranos with the university's decision to favour Milton over Mastriannai [good'ol Kath.]'

Michael Vance, Letters Editor.

Hayley Westenra has a "nice" voice.

Kiri Te Kanawa is an Opera Singer.

I've not forgotten this. I have the various applicable letters to the editor on my desk, and shall put up a representative bunch as soon as I get time (I'm quickly putting this up, then to work for the rest of the day I'm afraid - with time allocated only to Richard W and the stubborn Sandi).

I do have time to put up the letters published in support of you though. They are following:

Well, that's the letters in the affirmative. Stay tuned, I'll put the negative letters, including the one beginning, 'Osama bin Perigo displays ...' up next week (I suggest a bottle of red, perhaps something stronger, before you read, however )

(Only one today Linz, but normally takes a day or two as Press holds letters over.)

From Rhys William, Halswell:

I could not believe the letter in Yesterday's Press by Lindsay Perigo criticising Hayley Westenra. Like Kiri Te Kanawa's comments, his letter reeked of arrogance. Is he caught in a time warp? Both artists are great, but I commend the mana of Hayley for not reacting to pathetic moaning.

So take that ya'manaless bully.

I don't quite get the time warp reference, but then, I've had a client come for their end of year interview at 10.30am and they've only left now at 5.19pm with a lot of alcohol drunk, so what would I know.

Guess I'll never be visiting ChCh again, what with Hayley's parents being there and all. Still, after my recent experience with the Church of the Brandens, I'm getting used to lynch mobs. Do pass on the howlings of this one.

Linz, your 'letter' made pride of place in The Press today: number one slot. A fiery couple of days coming in letters to the editor Should be fun.

(Oh, for the record, as much as I like Hayley, I love Kiri.) 

In the case of the cricket, Chris Martin of Coldplay is a player's namesake. And yes, they've gone soft.

Humour at the one-dayer in Auckland was to the fore all day with music chosen for players. Mostly pop for the masses understandably.

Kiri may be a professional but so is my dentist - people that get entertainment value from either are sick.

Paul -
Perhaps you should copy Lindsay's approach for discussing the performance of the Libertarianz.

Cheers,

Reed

= Chris Martin closing a KASS Black Caps innings.

Or Hayley "singing" opera.

Ah nuts. Richard G., give us a definition for 'anti-climax': he's decided to be all reasonable about it

Some opera singers can do "crossover" credibly. Kiri is not one of them. As I've said in the past, when she does crossover she sounds like a rich man's Julie Andrews (though Julie's enunciation was clearer). This doesn't alter the truth of her comments about herself and Hayley, whose fans can arguably be forgiven. Congenital defects should not be held against one, I expect.

Richard G, you've got the philsophers slippery grasp of a definition: give us one for 'apoplexy' please.

I can not stand the mature penetrating voice of Kiri, never could even when I was new in this country and didn't have a clue who the hell she was when she sang at some vinyard near Napier almost 18 years ago.

But there are a couple of songs that I really like with the fresh young voice of Hayley. Mind you there are some real horrid ones too.

I think Kiri's comments are pretentious as are those from Lindsay. They serve no purpose but to dump on a young singer who may one day be as famous as Kiri is today. Why not just decline and leave it at that? Those comments were not necessary and nor is this press spam.

Global warming is a hoax carbonhoax.org.nz and spread the word.

... for South Islanders, though we do like to keep this quiet.

I quite like Hayley's squeaking; I've got the CD's and everything. Mind you, I also liked that big building in North Korea that Peter, or someone, put up as an example of ugly building syndrome. Middle aged and without taste, apparently.

And I like that blind opera chap with the beard. And Kate Jenkins. And some Yanni.

Not all Yanni though. And whenever Yanni opens his mouth, he shouldn't - I'll admit to that.

Mark-lite.

Attributed to Helen Clark:
“We prefer our champions to be humble and modest,”

Not sure when HC said this, but it's a sign of the attitude - You're allowed to be great, but gods forbid you ever acknowledge it yourself.

yes, kiwis will think that to be a terribly rude comment and they'll label her a Prima Donna... I'm so pleased she said it, it shows integrity to a standard.

Hayley and Dave D? Double shudder!