MCA’s CDs

Regarding Herb Glass’ assessment of MCA Classics’ new Royal Blue Line compact disc re-release series (On the Record, May 8), a few points must be made clear.

Glass questions what is meant by the appellation “Double Decker.” Although we in the recording industry do indeed enjoy our share of nonsensical wordplay, we are not entirely frivolous. The Double Deckers are so named because the packages contain two full CDs (usually more than 120 minutes of music) for the price of a single mid-line disc, thus establishing the least expensive classical CD in the marketplace.

Glass also puts into doubt the historical value of performances by, among others, the “teen-aged” Daniel Barenboim. Barenboim’s recording of Beethoven’s “Diabelli Variations” took place when the pianist was in fact 23 years old.

MARTIN FLEISCHMANN

MCA Classics