I agree with Bill Cernota that all of Chicago should have been pleased with the first free Lyric Opera concert in the Petrillo Bandshell (Voice of the people, Sept. 26). And even though I could not be considered an opera buff, I realized that this would be a special event, and indeed it was.
But I have to disagree with Cernota’s idea of naming future such events in honor of James Petrillo. As a matter of fact, when the announcer declared before the concert the fact that the concert was funded by the Music Performance Trust Funds, I wanted to encourage the audience to start chanting, “Petrillo, Petrillo, Petrillo.”
Cernota is correct in pointing out that Petrillo was responsible for the establishment of that fund. In fact, he was responsible for the concept of public concerts throughout our country. He was also responsible for the strength of the musicians’ union and the generous salaries and benefits musicians in America are enjoying today.
Acknowledging these facts makes it insulting to accept that the future bandshell should not continue to honor this “musician for the people” and instead should be named to honor an individual or corporation that has agreed to share their success in order to get their name plastered on the place. It isn’t enough to associate his name with a single event out of the whole musical year. His name belongs on the future bandshell itself.
When we can say we enjoyed the opera concert, let’s remember that if it weren’t for James C. Petrillo, there wouldn’t have been a concert.
