Radio missing public

The present chorus of voices pleading with Maine Public Radio for a return to more, not less, classical music programming has revived my hope just enough to add my bit. The long descent from the glory days of Robert J. Lurtsema – his morning birds, quiet voice and beautiful music – had left me convinced that to enjoy this hour after hour, day after day, instead of more and more noisy banter, was to be some strange exception.

But perhaps not. Perhaps there are many others who actually feel the same way. Perhaps someone at MPR will yet tune in to this part of the constituency. Or, barring that, perhaps WBACH will sense a viable market, expand northward, and we’ll all live happily ever after. Daryl E. Witmer Monson

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I join those who have expressed dismay over the recent programming cut made by Maine Public Radio. Gradually, one by one, this station is robbing its listeners of classical music programs and, now its Saturday afternoon opera broadcasts.

How did the executives of this “public radio” station obtain their market data to support the decision that opera would no longer appeal to the citizens of Maine? My sense is that there are many people tucked away even in the far and remote corners of our beautiful state who depend on a little culture, and on opera as a fine art form.

When MPR states that it wants to cater more to the baby boomer generation, it leaves out a large segment of the population of potential supporters. Personally, I feel angered and saddened that my choices of what I can listen to are being taken away and replaced with mindless talk shows like, for instance, “Car Talk.” If MPR wants to earn the right to its name, it ought to give consideration to all of its public and bring a wide enough choice of programs.

Hella Spencer

Brewer

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Thank you for your excellent editorial (Nov. 25-26), “Public and the radio.” I’d been too angry over recent programming changes at MPR to even organize my thoughts enough to write a letter of protest.

Your editorial helped me to compose both myself and then a letter to MPR. I am a longtime public radio listener and contributor (wherever I’ve lived), an opera buff, and now a former MPR supporter. Candace Watson

Phippsburg