----- Original Message -----
From: Dmitri Nabokov
To: 'D. Barton Johnson'
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 8:46 PM
Subject: "DARKBLOOM" -- THE THWARTED LOLITA OPERA

DEAR DON,
 
JOHN HARBISON'S EXCUSES ABOUT HIS "THWARTED" LOLITA  OPERA, ABOUT THE UNACCEPTABLE SUBJECT MATTER, ABOUT THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF SETTING LO'S COMIC ASPECTS, AND ABOUT THE VILE GOINGS-ON UNDER ECCLESIASTIC ROBES ARE ALL A COP-OUT. IT IS HARBISON WHO IS INCOMPETENT. ONE NEED LOOK -- AND LISTEN -- NO FURTHER THAN RODION SHCHEDRIN'S BRILLIANTLY SUCCESSFUL LOLITA (COMPLETE WITH MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH'S CONDUCTING, SUPERB STAGING AND A THOROUGHLY CONVINCING HEROINE), COMPOSED WITH ROYAL PATRONAGE AND PERFORMED, ROYALLY AND REPEATEDLY, IN STOCKHOLM.
 
DMITRI NABOKOV