As a member of the audience at the John Tavener concert at the Brighton Dome, may I contradict your correspondent Rosemary Baigent who obviously spent more time watching the young girl than she did listening to the music (Letters, May 31). If only we adults could have slept through the turgid meanderings of Sir John's latest work. Sleep would have been infinitely preferable.

Having taken groups of children even younger than the aforementioned young girl to concerts of contemporary music by composers such as Messiaen and Boulez, let me assure her that it is only by giving young children the opportunity to listen and respond to all types of music that the younger generation will have an opportunity to judge the quality of new music.

Her interest in Steven Isserlis's cello was entirely understandable and far less intrusive than the unbridled coughing of many of the adult audience. Well done that father.

Perhaps if your correspondent had spent more time in her early youth at concerts she would understand more about children and even more about music.

  • Ray Allen, Clover Way, Portslade