THE BIG MIX

Peter Sellars’ commentary deteriorates into cynical ramblings about how Asian and Third World cultures are superior to our up-start Western one. May I remind him that Shakespeare, Dante and pals were doing neat things centuries ago, comparing favorably to anything in the East.

Of course, it was Sellars who staged an “updated” version of “Don Giovanni.” Anyone arrogant enough to think he can improve on Mozart (he couldn’t) is clearly more interested in finding something “new” than in developing and preserving our heritage, or in finding the best new artists wherever they come from--even if from Europe or (heaven forbid) from European-influenced America.

JUDITH VALDEZ

Beverly Hills