Musicals at the ENO

SIR – The musicals quoted in your interview (Arts, March 15) with the opera star Alan Opie, Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard, Carousel and (opening on May 1) Chess, are produced by the Gradelinnit Company in the spring weeks during which, traditionally, the ENO has not produced opera but rented the theatre out.

We are proud of our work at the Coliseum and the benefits we bring to the ENO, both financial and in terms of new audiences. There is no public subsidy in our productions and no risk to the ENO’S balance sheet. But our musicals do not displace ENO opera productions.

Michael Grade

Michael Linnit

London W1