I, too, was at the much-hyped Russell Watson concert on April 27.

How sad it is that personal abuse should be levelled (Letters, May 3) at Mike Howard for such a truthful review.

True, he could have been kinder to Hayley Westenra but he could have been more truthful regarding Faye Tozer, who was simply dreadful.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have had better days and would probably have fared better had they had a dedicated conductor.

Why did we have to endure the Guildford Philharmonic Choir when we have the excellent Brighton Festival Choir or The Ditchling Choral Society?

I will refrain from commenting on St Winifred's Convent School Choir. It's not fair to be unkind to children.

As for Watson himself, he was done no injustice. The review stated at the very beginning how many thousands of adoring fans had packed the Brighton Centre to see their hero.

It also stated there was a standing ovation at the end and that his audience "were delighted by every single second of the show".

The criticism given was very fair. The fans had paid to see Mr Watson perform live, not watch disjointed video clips of him.

Each time he had a change of clothes, he returned to the stage with the air of the prima donna and a "notice me in my new coat" grin on his face.

He is not an opera singer and, as much as I dislike Michael Ball, he could probably have done the whole performance ten times better.

At least Ball knows how to communicate with his audience. Watson seemed to mutter and grin and took it for granted we all understood him.

I felt as though the only thing he really needed with him in the Centre that night was a full-length mirror - he certainly did convey how fond he is of himself.

Musically, he was fairly "middle of the road" and tolerable until he murdered Barcelona. Freddie Mercury won't be spinning in his grave as Mike suggested - he's probably out there looking for Watson, to haunt him.

If you can't do a better version than that night's rendition, Russell, do us all a favour and leave it out of your repertoire.

Mike Howard may be an ageing hack but he is honest and courageous for writing a review that he must surely have known would cause such a furore.

Was he unfair to Russell Watson? Not half as unfair as Watson was to his audience that Saturday night.

-Mary Chamberlain, Barn Close, Hassocks